European Union foreign ministers failed to reach a consensus on imposing sanctions against Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, following a meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday. Despite calls from several member states to take punitive measures, the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, confirmed there was no unanimity to proceed with sanctions against Ben Gvir.

The push for sanctions intensified after Ben Gvir released a video last month in which he appeared to mock detained activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. In response to the video, France imposed a ban on Ben Gvir’s entry and urged the European Union to implement bloc-wide restrictions against him. However, given that EU sanctions require agreement from all 27 member states, some countries with strong pro-Israel stances opposed the move, preventing the adoption of any collective action.

In addition to the discussion on sanctions, the EU diplomats addressed concerns surrounding trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Several member states advocated for the European Commission to develop proposals aimed at restricting commerce linked to these settlements, which are widely considered illegal under international law. Kallas indicated she would request the Commission to compile a range of options for potential trade measures. These proposals are expected to be reviewed at the next foreign ministers’ gathering scheduled for July.

Israel has maintained control over the West Bank since 1967, and successive governments have supported the expansion of settlements in the territory. The pace of settlement growth, particularly under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current coalition, has accelerated significantly. More than half a million Israeli settlers now reside in these areas, which exist alongside an estimated three million Palestinians. The settlements and associated settler violence have contributed to ongoing tensions and conflict in the region.