Tel Aviv

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Sunday strongly criticised the European Union after the bloc imposed sanctions on certain Israeli individuals and organisations, calling the decision politically motivated and unjustified.

In a statement posted on X, Sa'ar accused the EU of acting arbitrarily by targeting Israeli citizens and groups over their political views. He also condemned what he described as an unfair comparison between Israeli civilians and militants belonging to Hamas.

“Israel firmly rejects the sanctions imposed on its citizens and organisations. The European Union has taken a political decision without any factual or legal basis,” Sa'ar said, adding that equating Israeli citizens with Hamas members was “morally distorted.”

Defending Israeli settlement activity, the foreign minister asserted that Jewish communities have a historic and legitimate connection to the land. He maintained that no external body could deny what he described as the Jewish people’s historical and legal right to settle in the region.

Sa'ar further argued that attempts to influence Israeli policy through sanctions would not succeed and reaffirmed Israel’s support for Jewish settlement in what he called the “heart of our homeland.”

The remarks came after French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot announced that the EU had approved sanctions against Israeli organisations and individuals accused of supporting extremist settlement activities in the West Bank.

In a post on X, Barrot said the sanctions targeted groups and leaders allegedly linked to violent colonisation efforts in the occupied territory. He added that such actions were “serious and intolerable” and must end immediately.

Barrot also noted that the EU had simultaneously sanctioned senior Hamas figures, whom he blamed for the October 7 attacks, describing the group as a terrorist organisation that should have no role in the future governance of Palestine.

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas said EU foreign ministers had agreed to move forward with sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians, as well as against Hamas leaders. She stated that extremism and violence must have consequences.

READ MORE: 10 Muslims women academicians of India

According to reports, these are the first sanctions approved unanimously by all 27 EU member states since July 2024.