EU sanctions are being urged by Sweden and the Netherlands in a joint letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, calling for targeted measures against Hamas and certain extremist Israeli ministers to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“We must put more pressure on the Israeli government and we must put more pressure on Hamas,” said Sweden’s Foreign Minister (utrikesminister) Maria Malmer Stenergard.
What Sweden and the Netherlands propose
The letter asks the EU to adopt targeted sanctions designed to limit specific individuals’ ability to transfer capital across borders and to travel within the EU. According to Stockholm, the measures should apply to Hamas figures and to Israeli ministers deemed responsible for extremist policies or incitement.
The stated goal is to mitigate the humanitarian emergency in Gaza while reinforcing the EU’s calls for de‑escalation and the release of all hostages.
Sanctions mechanics: unanimity makes approval hard
Under EU rules, decisions on restrictive measures require unanimity among member states. While countries such as Spain and Ireland have previously supported tougher steps regarding Israel’s conduct in the conflict, divisions inside the Council have repeatedly slowed or blocked joint action.
Securing agreement on sanctions naming sitting Israeli ministers would mark an unprecedented escalation of the EU’s response and is likely to face resistance.
Precedent in place: EU action against extremist settlers
The EU has already sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers and affiliated entities over serious human‑rights abuses in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Those listings—adopted under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime—impose asset freezes and travel bans on individuals and outposts involved in violence and intimidation of Palestinians.
Extending similar measures to government ministers would be a broader political step than targeting non‑state actors.
Copenhagen meetings put pressure on Brussels
The initiative lands just as EU defence and foreign ministers meet informally in Copenhagen (Gymnich format) to discuss security, the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. By tabling the request now, Stockholm and The Hague seek to re‑open the debate on how the EU should respond to Gaza’s deterioration and Israel’s ongoing military operations.
Sweden’s move signals a more assertive Nordic stance within EU foreign policy at a moment when Gaza’s humanitarian conditions are worsening and European diplomacy is under scrutiny. Denmark’s role as Gymnich host underscores the regional relevance, while any agreement—if reached—would shape the EU’s legal and political toolkit for balancing humanitarian concerns, counter‑terrorism against Hamas, and relations with Israel.
