The EU has sanctioned Israeli ‘extremists’ living in the West Bank Israel-Palestine War News

The EU says the people admitted by the groups violated a range of rights, from physical and mental rights, to the right to education.

The European Union has recognized four organizations and three individuals it says are “Israeli settlers” responsible for “violating the rights” of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The EU said it violated a range of rights, including the right to physical and mental integrity, privacy and family life, freedom of religion and education.

Thursday’s announcement is part of the EU penalties agreed earlier this month to punish Israeli settlers and the leaders of Hamas.

The sanctions include the Nachala Settlement Movement and its director, Daniella Weiss. The EU says the group “encourages and supports coercive actions that result in the displacement of Palestinians”.

Israeli NGO Regavim and its director, Meir Deutsch, are also on the sanctions list for advocating “destruction of Palestinian property” to expand Israeli control over the entire West Bank, including demolishing an EU-funded Palestinian primary school.

Also recognized by the Hashomer Yosh NGO and its president, Avichai Suissa for supporting “at least 28 violent areas and villages”. It also recruits armed volunteers and provides security guards against violence, the EU added.

The Amana Cooperative Association of the Settlement movement Gush Emunim was also sanctioned, the EU said “it also played a major role in establishing, funding, and leading at least 30 violent communities and villages”.

Penalties expected for a long time

With the additions on Thursday, the EU said it has now ordered 136 individuals and 41 organizations from different countries under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.

This authority was created in 2020, and applies to cases of murder, crimes against humanity and serious violations of human rights or torture.

The measures facing Israeli settlers over Palestinian violence were long-awaited, after being blocked by the self-proclaimed non-liberal government of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

However, the appointment of new Prime Minister Peter Magyar saw the veto quickly overturned earlier this month.

Israel has previously opposed the sanctions, saying that Jews have the right to live in the West Bank, even though they were violation of international law.

In 2025, Israel’s settlement growth reached its highest level since 2017, when the United Nations began tracking data.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, the West Bank has experienced almost daily violence involving Israeli soldiers and residents. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the area, according to the UN.