European diplomats said on the 6th that France is working with several other European countries to develop coordinated measures at the national level, targeting Jewish settlers in the West Bank who participate in violent attacks against Palestinian civilians, in order to further pressure Israel.
Three European diplomats who declined to disclose their names told Reuters that the sanctions are expected to be announced in the next few days. The measures will include asset freezes and travel bans. The details of the sanctions are not yet finalized, and there may be differences in the lists of individuals targeted by each country.
March 23, in the northern city of Nablus on the West Bank, a Palestinian person examines a car that was burned by Israeli settlers. Photo provided by Xinhua News Agency (photo by Ayman Nobani)
The aforementioned diplomat said that due to the efforts being made at the EU level to implement more stringent measures against Israel being hindered, some countries believe that coordinated sanctions at the national level are the best option at this stage.
One of the diplomats revealed that Britain and Norway were involved in the coordinated action initiated by France. It is currently unclear which other countries will join. The British Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on the report, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not responded yet.
According to Reuters, most countries are reluctant to discuss unilateral sanctions openly, in order to prevent the sanctioned entities from transferring assets in advance.
Recently, violent incidents involving Jewish settlers on the West Bank have become increasingly severe. A report by the United Nations shows that as of May 2026, more than 800 incidents of Jewish settlers attacking Palestinians have been recorded, involving over 220 communities, resulting in casualties and property damage.
On May 22, leaders from Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany issued a joint statement, urging the Israeli government to immediately cease the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and expressing strong condemnation of the increasingly violent actions by settlers.
(Osa)
