London, 12th\u00a0March 2026\u00a0\u2013 On Monday, the European Union\u00a0approved\u00a0sanctions\u00a0against\u00a0violent\u00a0Israeli settlers\u00a0in the occupied West Bank who illegally and\u00a0increasingly\u00a0attack Palestinians and\u00a0unlawfully expand Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, with the French Foreign Minister denouncing\u00a0illegal\u00a0settlers supporting the \u201cextremist and violent colonisation of the West Bank\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This sanctions package, which\u00a0targets\u00a0just\u00a0three Israeli settlers and four settler organisations, had been previously blocked by former Hungarian PM Orban.\u00a0It does not\u00a0disclose\u00a0the names of sanctioned individuals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
While ICJP welcomes the imposition of sanctions on extremist and violent Israeli settlers, these measures fall far short of the comprehensive economic pressure needed to hold Israel accountable. Targeted sanctions\u00a0on individual settlers and organisations\u00a0alone will not meaningfully challenge Israel\u2019s accelerating expansion in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0As a major economic bloc, the EU must suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, impose comprehensive trade sanctions, and take stronger action to confront policies of annexation and settlement expansion that continue to undermine international law and the prospects for a just and lasting peace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the face of accelerating Israeli expansion, piecemeal sanctions on individual settlers are no longer sufficient. The recent approval of Israel\u2019s E1 settlement project underscores the urgency. If implemented, E1 would effectively split the West Bank into two disconnected enclaves, deepening de facto annexation and closing off any\u00a0viable\u00a0path toward Palestinian sovereignty\u00a0and\u00a0a just political resolution.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Illegal settlement of the oPt is\u00a0orchestrated\u00a0by the Israeli state, both implicitly and explicitly. Sanctions must target Israeli ministers who are\u00a0ultimately responsible\u00a0for the actions of the illegal settlers. They are responsible both for encouraging settlers to illegally occupy land through projects such as E1, and they are also responsible for\u00a0facilitating\u00a0an\u00a0environment of impunity\u00a0in order to\u00a0allow such violations to take place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
These projects\u00a0aim to\u00a0deliberately\u00a0reshape the territory\u2019s geography and demographics in clear violation of international law, deepening\u00a0instability\u00a0and undermining Palestinians\u2019 right to self-determination.\u00a0If the EU is serious about its commitment to democracy, it would extend its sanctions package to\u00a0those responsible for annexation projects like E1 including the Israeli government.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00d3rlaith Roe, ICJP\u2019s Public Affairs and Communications Officer said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the occupied West Bank alone, more than\u00a0500,000 Israeli settlers now live on Palestinian land. In 2025, the expansion of Israeli settlements reached its highest level since at least 2017.\u00a0Against this backdrop, the EU\u2019s decision to impose sanctions on only a small number of individual settlers is wholly inadequate.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s accelerating annexation agenda,\u00a0exemplified by projects such as E1,\u00a0cannot be meaningfully challenged through symbolic measures alone. If the EU is serious about upholding international law and pursuing accountability, it must move beyond limited sanctions, suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and implement comprehensive trade sanctions without delay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
ENDS\u00a0<\/p>\n
Notes for Editors:\u00a0<\/p>\n
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more information, to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n