European Union foreign ministers have agreed on a new round of sanctions targeting Israeli occupiers and organisations accused of supporting illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
"It's done! The European Union is sanctioning today the main Israeli organisations guilty of supporting the extremist and violent colonisation of the West Bank, as well as their leaders. These most serious and intolerable acts must cease without delay," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X on Monday.
"The hope that France revived last year in New York, that of two recognised and respected States living side by side in peace and security, we will let no one undermine it," he added.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also confirmed the decision, saying EU foreign ministers "gave the go-ahead to sanction illegal Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians."
"It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery. Extremisms and violence carry consequences," Kallas said on X.
Escalating Israeli violence
The occupied West Bank has witnessed escalating violence since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, including killings, arrests, settlement expansion, and home demolitions, according to Palestinian officials.
At least 1,155 Palestinians have been killed, around 11,750 injured and nearly 22,000 arrested in the occupied West Bank during that period, according to official Palestinian figures.
Meanwhile in Gaza, the health ministry said three more Palestinians were killed and 16 others wounded in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours.
The ministry said the overall death toll since October 2023 has risen to 72,740, while injuries have reached 172,555.
