In a written answer to a parliamentary question on 31 July 2026, High Representative/Vice-President Kallas defended the rights of two EU citizens sanctioned by the United States for their involvement in the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Samidoun organisation, while stopping short of announcing any concrete EU measures. Kallas affirmed that the EU respects the right of flotilla participants to draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and reiterated that freedom of expression, assembly and association are enshrined in international law, the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The answer, responding to a question from MEPs Irene Montero and Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), stressed that attacks or reprisals against flotilla participants constitute a breach of international law, and that humanitarian aid deliveries should be exempt from sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 2664 (2022), which the EU has transposed across its sanctions regimes.
The answer comes after the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 19 May 2026 on Saif Abukeshek and Jaldía Abubakra, freezing their US-based assets and financial interests without prior judicial process, a move the MEPs described as politically motivated persecution. Kallas did not directly address the specific cases of the two citizens, nor did she outline any bilateral démarche or legal assistance. Instead, she emphasised that the EU opposes any legislation or practices that unduly limit fundamental rights, and that sanctions must be grounded in international law, targeted, proportionate and accompanied by procedural safeguards. She also voiced support for independent investigations into alleged violations of international law and said the EU would use its tools, including bilateral contacts with the US, to uphold human rights.
The response is largely declarative, reaffirming existing EU positions rather than announcing new policy. It reflects a careful balancing act: defending the rights of EU citizens against foreign sanctions while avoiding direct confrontation with Washington. The EU has previously criticised extraterritorial sanctions, but this answer does not signal any immediate retaliatory or protective measures. Institutional follow-up is likely to remain at the level of diplomatic engagement, with no timeline or concrete mechanism proposed. The answer underscores the tension between the EU's commitment to civic space and its transatlantic relationship, leaving the two sanctioned individuals without immediate EU-backed relief.