EU Approves Sanctions on Violent Israeli Settlers and Hamas Leaders — First Package in 21 Months

All 27 EU foreign ministers approved new sanctions on May 11, 2026 targeting violent Israeli settlers and organizations supporting them in the West Bank, alongside sanctions against Hamas leaders. Seven settlers and settler organizations were blacklisted with asset freezes and travel bans; Hamas representatives were also targeted. The approval came after Hungary's new government under Prime Minister Péter Magyar lifted the veto that outgoing PM Viktor Orbán had imposed, enabling unanimous consensus for the first time. It was the first EU settler sanctions package in 21 months, with the previous round dating to July 2024. Proposals to sanction Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were dropped due to opposition from several member states. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas had signaled ahead of the vote that the bloc expected to approve the measures. The sanctions come as West Bank settler violence has reached record levels, with 59 communities fully depopulated, over 1,150 Palestinians killed, and the UN OHCHR characterizing the situation as a potential 'mass forcible transfer.'