UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EU agrees sanctions on West Bank settlers and Hamas leaders

Question 1

With reference to the European Union's restrictive measures announced on 11 May 2026 over the Israel-Palestine conflict, consider the following organisations/movements:
1. Amana
2. Nachala Settlement Movement
3. Hezbollah Executive Council
4. Regavim
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as targets of the EU's May 2026 sanctions package on the Israeli settler movement?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 2

Under the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy framework that was used to adopt the May 2026 sanctions on Hamas leaders and West Bank settler entities, the formal decision to impose such restrictive measures is taken by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Council of the European Union acting by unanimity on a proposal from the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Answer

The European Parliament acting by simple majority

Answer

The European Commission acting alone through an implementing regulation

Answer

The European Court of Justice on a reference from a member state

Question 3

Who currently holds the office of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy — the EU office that announced the unanimous political agreement of 11 May 2026 to sanction Hamas leaders and Israeli settler entities?

Accepted Answer

Kaja Kallas

Answer

Josep Borrell Fontelles

Answer

Ursula von der Leyen

Answer

António Costa

Question 4

The legal requirement that the Council of the European Union must act by unanimity to adopt Common Foreign and Security Policy restrictive measures — the procedure invoked for the May 2026 sanctions on Hamas leaders and Israeli settlers — is laid down primarily in:

Accepted Answer

Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union

Answer

Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union

Answer

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union

Answer

Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EU agrees sanctions on West Bank settlers and Hamas leaders

Q2. Under the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy framework that was used to adopt the May 2026 sanctions on Hamas leaders and West Bank settler entities, the formal decision to impose such restrictive measures is taken by which one of the following?

Q3. Who currently holds the office of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy — the EU office that announced the unanimous political agreement of 11 May 2026 to sanction Hamas leaders and Israeli settler entities?

Q4. The legal requirement that the Council of the European Union must act by unanimity to adopt Common Foreign and Security Policy restrictive measures — the procedure invoked for the May 2026 sanctions on Hamas leaders and Israeli settlers — is laid down primarily in: