Sanctions EU - Hamas and PIJ

On 21 September 2001, the European Council declared that terrorism is a real challenge to the world and to Europe and decided that the fight against terrorism will be a priority objective of the Union. On 19 October 2001, the European Council declared that it was determined to combat terrorism in every form throughout the world and that it would continue its efforts to strengthen the coalition of the international community to combat terrorism in every shape and form.

On 27 December 2001, the Council adopted Common Position 2001/931/CFSP, which implements United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373(2001) laying out wide-ranging strategies to combat terrorism and in particular the fight against the financing of terrorism. Common Position 2001/931/CFSP provides for the freezing of funds and other financial assets or economic resources of persons, groups and entities listed in the Annex thereto, and provides that funds, financial assets or economic resources or financial or other related services are not to be made available, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of persons, groups and entities listed in that Annex.

Since 27 December 2001, the Annex to Common Position 2001/931/CFSP has included Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem (terrorist wing of Hamas) and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (‘PIJ’) as terrorist groups. On 12 September 2003, the Council adopted Common Position 2003/651/CFSP, which updated the Annex to Common Position 2001/931/CFSP and replaced the entry for Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem (terrorist wing of Hamas) with Hamas (including Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem) (‘Hamas’) in the list of groups and entities involved in terrorist acts.

The listing of Hamas and PIJ has been reviewed several times pursuant to Article 1(6) of Common Position 2001/931/CFSP, and the restrictive measures applicable to them remain in force.

On 7 October 2023, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on the attacks against Israel, condemning in the strongest possible terms the multiple and indiscriminate attacks across Israel by Hamas and deeply deploring the loss of lives.

In its conclusions of 26 and 27 October 2023, the European Council reiterated its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Hamas for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel.

According to the EU, Hamas and PIJ constitute a threat to international peace and security, including by undermining or threatening the stability or security of Israel within its internationally recognised borders, as referred to in the Council conclusions of 10 December 2012 on the Middle East Peace Process. The violent actions by Hamas and PIJ would constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and of human rights law.

In view of the gravity of the recent attacks against Israel and the need to counter acts that threaten international peace and security, the EU decided to establish restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and PIJ.

Restrictive measures

Freezing of funds	Travel ban

Trade sanctions: Restricted products and transactions

There are currently no trade restrictions against Hamas and PIJ.

Financial sanctions: Listed persons & entities, restricted services

There are currently half a dozen persons on the list of people whose funds and economic resources are frozen.

Other sanctions

EU Member States must prevent the entry into, and the transit through, their territories of the listed persons.

To go further

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Legal texts

Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/385 of 19 January 2024 establishing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Council Regulation (EU) 2024/386 of 19 January 2024 establishing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad