A group of 24 MEPs from the Greens/EFA, The Left, S&D, and Renew groups has asked the EU's foreign policy chief whether the proposed visa ban for Russian (ex-)combatants should also apply to Israeli soldiers implicated in serious violations of international law. The written question, submitted on 16 June 2026, targets the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The MEPs note that on 9 June 2026, the European Commission announced a comprehensive visa ban for Russia's (ex-)combatants as part of the 21st sanctions package. They contrast this with a June 2025 note from the Office of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights documenting serious international humanitarian law and human rights violations by Israeli forces, as well as ongoing violations after the Gaza ceasefire, including settlement expansion in the West Bank and bombing in Lebanon. They also cite war crime and torture probes opened by French and Italian prosecutors over Israel's treatment of Gaza flotilla activists.
first, what justification underpins the Russian visa ban and whether it is transposable to Israeli soldiers; second, whether the VP/HR considers that Israeli soldiers' radicalisation from committing war crimes poses a security risk on EU territory; and third, whether the VP/HR intends to propose a similar measure for Israeli (ex-)soldiers.
The question reflects a push by MEPs to apply consistent human rights standards across EU visa policy, targeting a potential double standard. If the Commission were to extend the ban, it would affect Israeli nationals who have served in the military, potentially straining EU-Israel relations. The VP/HR is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and the answer will signal the EU's policy direction on this issue.