UPDATE - Canada imposes sanctions on 'extremist' Israeli settlers in West Bank

ADDS STATEMENT ON NEW FUNDING FOR PALESTINIANS

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) – Canada announced new sanctions Thursday against illegal Israeli settlers following escalating attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

"Attacks by extremist Israeli settlers—a longstanding source of tension and conflict in the region—have escalated alarmingly in recent months. This has undermined the human rights of Palestinians, prospects for a 2-state solution and posed significant risks to regional security," according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

Canada pledged to "examine additional measures in response to the grave breach of international peace and security posed by their violent and destabilizing actions against Palestinian civilians and their property in the West Bank."

Defining it as "a significant step in Canada’s response" to settler violence, the statement noted that the new sanctions target four individuals directly implicated in acts of violence against Palestinian civilians and their property.

They are identified as David Chai Chasdai, Yinon Levi, Zvi Bar Yosef and Moshe Sharvit.

The statement noted Foreign Minister Melanie Joly's remarks that said: "With these measures, we are sending a clear message that acts of extremist settler violence are unacceptable and that perpetrators of such violence will face consequences."

Reiterating its continued opposition to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, Canada noted its commitment to "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

There are 451,000 illegal settlers in 132 settlements and 147 outposts in the West Bank, along with 230,000 in occupied East Jerusalem, according to the left-wing Israeli Peace Now movement.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip, where more than 35,200 people have been killed following an attack on Oct. 7 last year by the Palestinian group Hamas.

Nearly 503 Palestinians have since been killed and 5,000 injured by Israel in the occupied territory, according to the Health Ministry.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

- Canada pledges CAN$65 million in funding for Palestinians in need

In a separate statement, Canada announced CAN$65 million of funding to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Expressing concern over Israel's potential ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a statement by the Foreign Ministry highlighted the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid to address the acute needs of civilians.

Citing recent remarks by Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen, the statement noted that of the total funding commitment, CAN$25 million will be allocated to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), building upon a previous commitment made in June 2023.

An additional CAN$40 million will be distributed to UNRWA and trusted partners in the region, including the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and other Canadian non-governmental organizations, according to the statement.

It further noted that the funding will support the provision of essential services such as food, water, emergency medical assistance and protection services to the affected population.