Germany backs EU sanctions amid Israeli settler pogroms in the West Bank
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Germany on Monday reaffirmed support for EU sanctions against violent Israeli settlers amid the ongoing pogroms on Palestinians in the West Bank, Anadolu reports.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Giese told journalists in Berlin that his country would “support” EU sanctions against violent Israeli settlers but also made it clear that the decision would be “made in Brussels.”
He pointed out that there was one EU member state, alluding to Hungary, that was “blocking” such sanctions.
Giese stressed again that it is “clearly the wish of the federal government” to proceed with such sanctions.
In other related news, Giese defended German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert, who was lambasted by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar for criticizing the anti-settler violence in the West Bank.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed in his phone call with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday evening “on the need for a more decisive approach to combat settler violence,” said Giese.
READ: Illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in 13 locations across occupied West Bank
The spokesperson reiterated his ministry’s “full” support for Seibert on this issue.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius voiced his country’s “concern” over the situation in the West Bank and “called on the parties to exercise restraint.”
Since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 8, 2023, attacks by Israeli forces and illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank have killed 1,133 Palestinians, injured about 11,700 others, and led to the arrest of roughly 22,000 people.
In February alone, illegal settlers carried out 511 attacks across the West Bank, killing seven Palestinians by gunfire, according to official Palestinian figures.
Earlier, in a landmark opinion in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
READ: Germany withdraws legal backing for Israel in ICJ genocide case
- Trump says if deal is reached, US will take Iran’s enriched uranium
- Germany backs EU sanctions amid Israeli settler pogroms in the West Bank
- Israeli opposition leader says Israel must continue Iran war even if US withdraws
- Russian, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Middle East crisis in phone call
- UAE signals war footing against Iran as Gulf focus shifts beyond ceasefire
- Trump pauses strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure for 5 days after ‘productive’ talks
- Iranian missiles strike central Israel amid interception challenges
- Palestinian data highlights surge in raids, arrests and settler violence
- Illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in 13 locations across occupied West Bank
- Hezbollah: We will force Lebanese government to reverse ban on our military activities
- Iran warns regional infrastructure will be targeted if its facilities are attacked
- Israel imposes flight restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport
- Trump calls Israeli President Herzog ‘weak and pathetic’ for not pardoning Netanyahu
- Yemen’s Houthis warns of action as regional tensions escalate
- Iran says US and Israel responsible for any escalation
- US says Iran war may last longer than planned: Report
- America’s Proxy War Expands: The Strait of Hormuz and Israel’s Hidden Agenda
- Iran says Strait of Hormuz ‘open,’ but ships fear passage
- Iran’s Strike Near Dimona Raises Old Questions About Israel’s Nuclear Secrets
- Israel’s destruction of infrastructure in southern Lebanon could precede ground invasion, warns Lebanese president
- Water on the brink: A warning to the Gulf in an age of American militarism
- Iran war strategy: Peace Through Resistance
- Iran warns regional energy infrastructure will be ‘legitimate targets’ if own facilities hit
- UK dismisses Israel’s claim that Iran could hit London
- Iran “Gone Wild” in Dimona: Is Tehran Using Israel-US Madman Doctrine?
- BBC “imposed restrictions” on its journalists during coverage of the Gaza war, UK Court hears
- UN nuclear watchdog says no damage detected at Israeli nuclear center after Iran strike
- Iran denies responsibility for missile attacks on Diego Garcia
A US Air Force B-1 bomber is loaded with bombs at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, March 16, 2026