Background
 | This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: many developments already included in table, but not in prose. (June 2026) |
In the US, Israeli settler violence received greater attention by the Biden administration following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. While rights groups demanded US Secretary of State Antony Blinken punish Israeli settlement groups for their actions against Palestinians in the West Bank, others believed that the sanctions did not go far enough because the Israeli government supports the settlements itself. During a visit to Israel on 30 November, Blinken raised concerns over the lack of action by the Israeli government regarding violent settlers. On 5 December 2023, Blinken introduced new visa restrictions regarding entry to the US of persons who committed acts of violence in the West Bank. On 1 February 2024, President Biden issued an executive order due to high levels of settler violence, forced displacement of Palestinians, and property destruction in the West Bank. The order imposed sanctions on foreign persons determined to be responsible for or complicit in actions that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the West Bank. It blocked their property interests in the US, suspends their entry into the country and prohibits transactions with sanctioned persons. The stated objective is to address events regarded by the administration as "an unusual and extraordinary threat" undermining US foreign policy objectives and threatening security in the region.
In Europe, sanctions were announced in February 2024 by the United Kingdom against extremist Israeli settlers who have violently attacked Palestinians in the West Bank. The sanctions included financial and travel restrictions with four settlers being sanctioned initially after documentation showed they engaged in systematic intimidation and violence against Palestinians; at times at gunpoint, to make them leave their homes.
Further sanctions against violent settlers were announced by the European Union on 19 April 2024, as the European Council blacklisted the right-wing organizations Lehava and Hilltop Youth and the individuals Meir Ettinger, Elisha Yered, Neria Ben Pazi and Yinon Levi. Because of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem on 28 February, France imposed sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers, including a ban on entering French territory. Also, Emanuel Macron's office said they are considering extending sanctions on Israeli settlers.
In May 2025, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada threatened sanctions against Israel over Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. In an open letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 26 May 2025, more than 800 lawyers, university professors and former judges called on the British government to impose sanctions on the Israeli government and its ministers and take steps to "prevent and punish genocide" in Gaza.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the Czech Republic as "Israel’s voice in Europe" and systematically opposed UN and European Union resolutions that criticized Israel's actions or sought sanctions against Israel.
In May 2025, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp argued that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip was a violation of international law and therefore of the EU–Israel Association Agreement. There were increasing calls for the full suspension of the association agreement. On 15 July 2025, the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and the foreign ministers of the EU member states decided not to take any action against Israel over alleged Israeli war crimes in the Gaza war and settler violence in the West Bank. The proposed sanctions against Israel included suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, suspending visa-free travel, or blocking imports from Israeli settlements. Israel considered the EU's decision not to impose sanctions on Israel as a diplomatic victory.
As of June 2026[update], Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are the most high-profile Israeli nationals to face sanctions.
In September 2025, Belgium enacted an entry ban for ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who had been previously banned by Slovenia; The United Kingdom; the Netherlands; and others, and banned imports from the illegal Israeli settlements, and implemented an arms embargo, including dual-use materials when the end user would be military. It also restricted consular services in respect of Belgians living in the settlements to exclusively include emergency aid, and requested a legal advice on banning Israeli's living in the settlements from receiving a D-visa, and requested that Belgians or people permanently residing in Belgium, who have committed severe violations of international law or terrorist offences, be prosecuted by the Federal prosecutor's office. Shortly afterwards, Spain also banned the two ministers and the Netherlands expanded its travel ban for the ministers to a restriction applying to the entire Schengen area. In May and June 2026, Ireland followed and France added an entry ban for Ben-Gvir.
In May 2026, the Dutch government announced a plan to sanction the illegal Israeli settlements, by banning trade in goods from these settlements, as well as intermediate services having to do with goods from the settlements. As of 22 July 2026[update], the measure will come into effect on 22 September. On 8 July, after the critical advice by the Council of State in June, the Second Chamber's foreign affairs committee asked more than a hundred questions about the proposed decision.
Polish ministers are deliberating an entry ban for Ben-Gvir according to Reuters.
In June 2026, the newly appointed government of Slovenia reversed many of the measures its predecessor had placed on Israel: the arms embargo, the 'persona non grata' declarations for prime minister Netanyahu and ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir as well as the ban on products imported from the West Bank settlements.
On 9 June 2026, Liza Rozovsky of Haaretz reported that the U.K. and "several other countries" were going to announce new sanctions on "six Israeli right-wing organizations and one far-right activist", including a "non-binding recommenation on trade with Israeli settlements". According to Rozovsky, Regavim would not be included. Canada, part of this group, announced its fifth round of sanctions the same day. Unlike the UK's list, this did include Regavim On the same day, Norway, another partner mentioned by the UK, announced it would sanction the individuals and entities the EU's sanctions dated 28 May 2026, and on top of that "decided to introduce entry bans on more than 20 violent settlers". On 19 June, Norway also announced a plan to ban trade with the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
On September 8, 2026, the British government accused Israeli settlers of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank, and decided to prohibit all trade with the settlements.
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