By chatnewstv.com
BRUSSELS — The European Union has extended sanctions against supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad for another year, maintaining a pressure campaign against those facilitating violence in the Middle East.
The Council of the EU announced Friday that the restrictive measures will now remain in place until Jan. 20, 2027. The framework targets individuals and entities found to have supported, enabled, or facilitated violent actions by the two militant groups.
Under the sanctions, those designated are subject to an immediate asset freeze, while EU citizens and companies are strictly prohibited from providing them with any funds or economic resources. Individuals on the list are also barred from entering or transiting through any EU member state.
Updated Sanctions List
Following an annual review of the designations, the Council removed one deceased individual from the list. The current sanctions regime now applies to:
11 individuals
3 entities
The framework was originally established in January 2024 to hold accountable those responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against Israel. It operates alongside the broader EU “Terrorist List,” which already includes Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as organizations.
Diplomatic Context
The extension comes as the EU continues to navigate a complex regional security landscape. In December 2025, the European Council welcomed United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, which proposed a “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict” and the establishment of an “International Stabilisation Force.”
“The European Council reaffirmed the EU’s strong commitment to international law and to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution,” the Council stated, noting that peace requires two democratic states living side-by-side within recognized borders.
The EU also signaled its readiness to support the “Board of Peace” through its civilian missions, EU BAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS, once the stabilization plan moves forward.
