As part of the Israel-Hamas resolution, Italy, France, and Germany are now urging the European Union to impose ad hoc sanctions against the Palestinian militant group, as well as terrorist supporters.
These sanctions were proposed during a meeting between EU foreign ministers on Monday, Dec. 11; leaders discussed what are the next steps to consider in response to the worsening Middle Eastern war.
Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement HAMAS militants, clad in military fatigues and brandishing fake automatic machine guns demonstrate in Al-Najah University in the West Bank city of Nablus 13 October.
Foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Italy sent a letter to EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, saying that the European Union should take all necessary measures against Hamas and its supporters.
Italy, Germany, France Call for EU's Special Sanctions Against Hamas
According to The Guardian's latest report, Italian, French, and German foreign ministers said that they fully support the proposal to create an ad hoc sanctions regime against the Palestinian terrorist group and its supporters.
"The swift adoption of this sanctions regime will enable us to send a strong political message about the EU's commitment against Hamas and our solidarity with Israel," they said in their letter.
Reuters reported that these special sanctions could include finance restrictions against Hamas and travel bans for Israeli settlers who were responsible for violence in the West Bank.
"This implies a stronger European commitment both to combating Hamas' infrastructure and financial support and to isolating and delegitimizing Hamas internationally, which in no way represents the Palestinians or their legitimate aspirations," added the foreign ministers of the bloc's three biggest nations.
As of writing, the Palestinian militant group is already tagged as a terrorist organization in the EU list. This means that all funds or assets that Hamas has in the EU should be frozen.
Italy, Germany, and France didn't specify how they wanted to broaden or tighten the sanctions against Hamas terrorists and supporters.
If members of the European Union agreed to the proposed special sanctions, they would seek help from experts to draw up the legal framework to determine individuals and entities that should be targeted.
Hamas Members Sanctioned by EU
Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on October 18, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Gazans are evacuating to the south as advised by the Israeli government.
On Friday, Dec. 8, the European Union announced that it added some Hamas members to its sanctions. One of them is Mohammed Deif; the commander general of Hamas' military wing.
The other one is Deif's deputy, Marwan Issa. Aside from these two Hamas members, the EU is also considering adding Hamas Gaza Chief Yahya Sinwar.
The proposed special sanctions and the additional Hamas members were announced after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized EU leaders, especially those of Germany, France, and Italy.
The Israeli leader said that the EU can't support the elimination of Hamas terrorists while pressuring the IDF to end the war. He explained that this would hamper their efforts to take down the Palestinian terrorist group entirely.
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