(1)

Council Regulation (EU) 2024/386 (2) gives effect to Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/385 (3), and provides for certain measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including the freezing of their assets.

(2)

In its conclusions of 26 June 2025, the European Council called for further work on restrictive measures against Hamas.

(3)

Hamas continues to represent a threat to international peace and security. Its violent actions constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and of human rights law. The Political Bureau of Hamas (‘Politburo’) is the main decision-making body of the group and determines its social, political, and military policies. In particular, the military wing of Hamas (Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem) is subject to the general policies decided by the Politburo and has consistently pledged allegiance to the Politburo. Furthermore, members of the Politburo have knowledge of the planning, preparation and execution of violent actions by Hamas. They also promote, defend and justify such violent actions, often publicly threatening or warning of similar future conduct. Thus, the Council considers that members of the Politburo play a significant role in the decision-making process within Hamas and exert considerable influence over the actions of Hamas, including its violent actions. Therefore, they bear overall responsibility for those actions.

(4)

In order to curb violent actions by Hamas, on 28 May 2026, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/1173, which provides for restrictive measures, in the form of travel restrictions on, and the freezing of all funds and economic resources belonging to, or owned, held or controlled by, members of the Politburo. However, Politburo members should not be subject to such restrictive measures if there is sufficient information to show that they do not exercise influence over violent actions carried out by Hamas.

(5)

Decision (CFSP) 2026/1173 also amends the title of Decision (CFSP) 2024/385.

(6)

The measures contained in this Regulation fall within the scope of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and, therefore, notably with a view to ensuring uniform application in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement them.

(7)

Regulation (EU) 2024/386 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

the title is replaced by the following:

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

(2)

in Article 2, the following paragraphs are inserted: