The European Union has agreed to impose long-delayed sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The decision, announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, came after months of deadlock that ended following a change of government in Hungary. The sanctions target seven settlers or settler organizations, as well as representatives of the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the EU is sanctioning key Israeli organizations and leaders supporting extremist and violent settlement activities. The move had been blocked by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose opposition ended when nationalist leader Péter Magyar took office and withdrew Hungary’s veto. EU ministers also discussed a proposal to ban products from Israeli settlements, though no decision was reached.

Israel condemned the sanctions, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accusing the EU of moral failure and false equivalence between Israeli citizens and Hamas. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the EU “antisemitic,” while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the move was politically motivated and baseless.