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The Jerusalem Post

Canada to sanction West Bank settlers and Hamas leaders - minister

 
 Israeli settlers hurl stones at Palestinians during the annual harvest season near the Israeli settlement of Yitzhar in the West Bank on October 7, 2020. (photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)
Israeli settlers hurl stones at Palestinians during the annual harvest season near the Israeli settlement of Yitzhar in the West Bank on October 7, 2020.
(photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he was considering imposing sanctions on "extremist" settlers in the West Bank.

Canada will impose sanctions on Israeli settlers who incite violence in the West Bank and introduce new sanctions on Hamas leaders, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Sunday, after the United States took similar action last week.

On Thursday, the United States sanctioned four Israeli men accused of being involved in violence in the territory.

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp on Sunday, Joly said some settlers "will be sanctioned" and "we will also bring new sanctions on Hamas leaders".

"We're working actively on it," Joly said, speaking from Ukraine. "I'm making sure that while I'm in Ukraine, the work is being done in Ottawa and I look forward to doing an announcement soon."

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he was considering imposing sanctions on "extremist" settlers in the West Bank.

 MDA on the scene after a terrorist attack occurred in the West Bank settlement of Adora. January 12, 2024. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X)
MDA on the scene after a terrorist attack occurred in the West Bank settlement of Adora. January 12, 2024. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X)

Growing tensions in the West Bank

Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israelis have built residences in the West Bank of the Jordan River, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state. It has built Jewish settlements there that most countries deem illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land.

In the 18 months before Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the West Bank had already seen its highest levels of unrest in decades. Confrontations there have risen sharply since Israeli forces launched their retaliatory offensive on Gaza.

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