EU Agrees Sanctions on West Bank Settlers, Hamas

European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday in Brussels to impose new sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and on leading figures from the Palestinian group Hamas, ending months of deadlock.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the decision, stating on social media, "It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery. Extremisms and violence carry consequences." The measures include asset freezes and travel bans targeting three settlers and four settler organizations, according to EU officials. Identities of those listed have not been publicly disclosed.

The package had been blocked for months by Hungary's previous government under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Israel. Hungary's new leadership under Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who took office after elections last month, dropped its opposition, allowing the agreement to proceed.

European governments cited a rise in reports of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank as the reason for the action. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on social media that the EU was "sanctioning the main Israeli organisations guilty of supporting the extremist and...