Paris - On Wednesday, France urged the European Union to consider sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in targeting Palestinians in the West Bank, emphasizing ongoing talks within the EU regarding potential sanctions on Hamas commanders.

According to U.N. figures, daily settler attacks have more than doubled since Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, leading to increased violence in the region and over 200 Palestinian casualties this year.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre stated in a weekly briefing that the international community has a crucial role in ending such destabilizing violence, with no options excluded, including EU sanctions on individuals engaging in violence. The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, remains under military occupation, and settlements have continued to expand, complicating the vision of a future independent Palestinian state.

A French diplomatic source mentioned that Paris supports EU sanctions, but as of now, there hasn't been a debate within the bloc on this matter. The United States expressed readiness to impose visa bans against "extremists" attacking civilians in the West Bank.

Legendre also noted progress in Brussels on imposing sanctions like asset freezes and travel bans on Hamas commanders. Collaborative efforts with European and other allies are underway to cut financing for Hamas, utilizing platforms such as No Money for Terror, a coalition established in 2018 to combat terrorism financing.

On November 13, France imposed national-level sanctions on Hamas' military commander Mohammed Deif and deputy Marwan Issa, with plans to add them to the EU's list of sanctioned terrorists by mid-December. Legal preparations for additional individuals are ongoing, although more time is required for their inclusion.