Canada to impose sanctions on West Bank residents and Hamas leaders

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada will sanction Israeli residents who incite violence in the West Bank and impose new sanctions on Hamas leaders, Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said on Sunday, following similar action last week by the United States.

On Thursday, the United States sanctioned four Israelis accused of involvement in violence in the occupied territory.

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday, Jolie said that “sanctions will be imposed” on some settlers and “we will also bring new sanctions on Hamas leaders”.

“We are actively working on it,” Jolie said, speaking from Ukraine. “I’m making sure that while I’m in Ukraine, the work is being done in Ottawa and I’m hoping to make an announcement soon.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday he is considering imposing sanctions on “extremist” settlers in the West Bank.

Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, which the Palestinians want as an independent state. It has created Jewish settlements there that most countries consider illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land.

In the 18 months preceding Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, the West Bank had already seen the highest levels of unrest in decades. The conflict there has escalated rapidly since Israeli forces launched a retaliatory attack on Gaza.

(Reporting by Steve Shire; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

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