EU diplomats agree to sanction Hamas leaders and Israeli settlers

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Europe EU diplomats agree to sanction Hamas leaders and Israeli settlers May 12, 20261:47 AM ET By The Associated Press European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, May 11, 2026. Marius Burgelman/AP hide caption toggle caption Marius Burgelman/AP BRUSSELS — The European Union unanimously agreed on Monday to impose new sanctions on the leaders of the Palestinian militant Hamas group and the Israeli settler movement, diplomats said, a decision sparked by growing outrage over the devastation in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. Middle East Israeli settlers force Palestinian family to exhume and rebury their father However, the foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc meeting in Brussels stopped short of endorsing stronger economic measures against the Israeli government, sought by some in Europe.

Though Monday's meeting resulted in political agreement, the EU still has to settle on which organizations and individuals will be hit with sanctions, and a committee will finalize the draft list. EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas posted on social media that the ministers agreed extremism and violence should carry consequences. "It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery," she said.

The Details

Sponsor Message The settler movement dismisses EU's move The EU has not released a draft list of those to be targeted but Israel's Haaretz newspaper said it includes settler organizations Amana, Nachala, Hashomer Yosh, Regavim and some of their leaders — Daniella Weiss, Meir Deutsch and Avichai Suissa. Weiss, one of the leaders of Nachala and often regarded as the godmother of the Israeli settler movement, said she had received no formal notification of the sanctions and told The Associated Press that she did not understand the justification for them. She described the sanctions as "ridiculous" and the situation as "banal," saying that it would not stop the movement.

Regavim said the group considers it "a badge of honor" to be sanctioned by the EU and would "continue working to restore governance and sovereignty throughout all parts of our homeland. " Israel's government, dominated by far-right proponents of the settler movement, reacted defiantly. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a social media post that the sanctions were "arbitrary and political" and vowed that the government would "continue to stand for the right of Jews to settle in the heart of our homeland.

" Key settlers in Israel's government include Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who formulates settlement policy, and Cabinet minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the nation's police force. Sponsor Message Ministers sought to pressure both Hamas and settlers French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the ministers decided to sanction Hamas leaders and both leaders and organizations in the Israeli settler movement in the occupied West Bank.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.