The European Union formally sanctioned the first violent Israeli settlers this Friday for "serious human rights abuses" against Palestinian citizens. Four people and two radical organizations have been included in the Union's blacklist.

Sanctions imply the freezing of any assets that those identified may have in European territory, the prohibition of any type of commercial transaction with them, and also the denial of entry to the EU space. The latest example of the tense situation in the area occurred last Saturday a few hours before the Iranian attack against Israel that ended up gaining international attention – and concern. Hundreds of radical settlers attacked Palestinians with firearms in several towns in the West Bank. The result of the violent action of the settlers, who also burned cars and homes, was at least one Palestinian dead and two dozen more injured. The High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU, Josep Borrell, declared himself "dismayed" by the "violence in the West Bank" and condemned both the murder of the young man and the 'continued escalation' of attacks. The EU announced last week the inclusion of three entities in its global sanctions regime on human rights violations. These are, as announced by the EU Council, the Al Qasam and Nukhba organizations – the armed wing and elite force of Hamas. The decision to sanction violent settlers was taken after several countries, such as Spain, announced their intention to apply their own punishments if Brussels did not reach an agreement on the matter. The U.S. also imposed its first sanctions in early February on four settlers who engaged in "intolerable" acts of violence against Palestinians or Israeli activists. The Government of Joe Biden also opened the door to sanction more people who, according to the official order, with their actions "constitute a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel, and the broader region of the Middle East.'