Canada imposes new sanctions on West Bank settler organizations
Ottawa adds two individuals and five companies to its sanctions list, targeting those accused of extremist settler violence in occupied territories.
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Canada has imposed a fifth round of sanctions against Israelis accused of extremist settler violence in the West Bank, targeting two individuals and five companies involved in settlement construction and operations.
The move marks an escalation in Canada's response to what it characterizes as violations of international law. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and Canada — alongside many other countries — does not recognize Israeli settlements there as legitimate.
The listed entities include people and organizations that the U.K. and New Zealand have also accused of attacking Palestinians. Canada's sanctions are aimed at maintaining diplomatic pressure for a two-state solution, which the current Israeli government has rejected.
The action comes two years after Canada first sanctioned four West Bank settlers in 2024. Since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza, the United Nations has tracked a significant increase in settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
The sanctions freeze any Canadian assets these individuals and companies hold and prohibit Canadian residents and businesses from conducting transactions with them. Canada's Foreign Affairs Ministry said the measures are designed to signal the country's commitment to human rights and international law, even as broader Middle East tensions remain unresolved.