Ottawa: Canada, along with Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK, has imposed sanctions and other measures against two far-right Israeli Cabinet ministers for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
According to Anadolu Agency, the joint statement from the involved countries highlights that Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's finance minister and national security minister, respectively, have been accused of inciting extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. The statement condemned the ministers' extremist rhetoric, which advocates for the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements.
The statement further emphasized that the actions of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are unacceptable. It mentioned that despite extensive engagement with the Israeli Government on this issue, violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity, a situation that needs immediate addressing.
The foreign ministers of the five countries have urged Israel to uphold its obligations under international law and called for meaningful action to end extremist, violent, and expansionist rhetoric. The statement noted that while the current measures focus on the West Bank, they cannot be seen in isolation from the ongoing situation in Gaza. It emphasized that there should be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank and no reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, the statement expressed the countries' determination to reach an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, along with ensuring the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid, including food. It reiterated firm support for a two-state solution as the only viable path to security and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians, warning that this goal is threatened by extremist Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion.