European Union foreign ministers failed to reach unanimous agreement on imposing sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir during talks on Monday, exposing continued divisions within the bloc over how to respond to the conduct of senior members of Israel’s government.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said several member states supported punitive measures against Ben-Gvir but acknowledged that the proposal fell short of the unanimous backing required for sanctions to move forward.
“Many member states have also proposed to sanction Minister Ben-Gvir, but no consensus on that was reached,” Kallas told reporters after the meeting.
The discussions came as European governments continue to intensify scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the actions of members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. While several EU countries have pushed for a tougher response, others have remained reluctant to approve additional sanctions against Israeli officials.
Pressure on Ben-Gvir has increased following the circulation of a video in which he appeared to mock pro-Palestinian activists attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza after they had been restrained on the ground. The footage drew widespread condemnation from Western governments and human rights advocates, who argued that it undermined humanitarian efforts amid the continuing conflict.
Although the European Union was unable to agree on bloc-wide sanctions, individual countries have already taken their own measures against the far-right minister.
France announced in May that Ben-Gvir would be barred from entering French territory, citing concerns over his conduct and public statements. Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation involving the Israeli minister, adding to growing legal and diplomatic pressure from European capitals.
The lack of consensus highlights the difficulty the 27-member European Union often faces when attempting to formulate a unified foreign policy on the Middle East, where sanctions require unanimous approval from all member states.
Several European governments have recently adopted a more critical stance toward Israel as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated. At the same time, others have argued that maintaining dialogue with the Israeli government remains essential, contributing to differing positions within the bloc.
Monday’s discussions ended without any immediate action against Ben-Gvir, leaving the issue unresolved despite mounting calls from some member states for stronger diplomatic measures.
The debate over potential sanctions is expected to continue as the European Union reviews its broader policy toward Israel and assesses further responses to developments in Gaza in the coming weeks.
