Canada on Thursday imposed a series of additional sanctions on individuals and entities involved in violence by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The sanctions target seven individuals and five entities “for their role in facilitating, supporting or financially contributing to acts of violence committed by extremist Israeli settlers against members of the Palestinian civilian population and their property,” Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.
The Special Economic Measures Against Settler Violence Regulations impose a ban on transactions with listed individuals and entities, and freeze any assets they may have in Canada. These individuals are also inadmissible to Canada.
Extremist settlers are notably responsible for loss of life and damage to Palestinian agricultural land and property, continues Global Affairs Canada. This violence has also contributed to the forced displacement of Palestinians, which aggravates the insecurity of their population in the West Bank.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly pointed out “the harmful impact that this violence has on the prospects for lasting peace.” According to Global Affairs Canada, these attacks constitute an attack on the human rights of Palestinians and undermine the possibility of a two-state solution, in addition to posing security risks in the region.
Second wave of Canadian sanctions
Ottawa is therefore sanctioning Israeli settlers in the West Bank for a second time. Four of them were targeted last May under the Special Economic Measures Act, which was a first for Justin Trudeau’s government. These individuals were already subject to American or British sanctions.
Violence in the West Bank has only intensified since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparked by the Palestinian movement’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to Palestinian authorities, 553 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army or settlers since that date in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and whose permanent control Canada does not recognize.
With Agence France-Presse
