00:00 Canada has declared its intention to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in
00:07 inciting violence within the West Bank, according to the foreign minister, Melanie Jory.
00:12 Additionally, several sanctions will also target the leader of Palestinian militant
00:17 group Hamas.
00:19 The move follows similar actions by the United States, which imposed sanctions on four Israeli
00:24 accused of participating in violence in the occupied territory.
00:28 If one remembers, the United States had sanctioned several entities in the city of Jenin in the
00:32 West Bank on charges of inciting violence against the Palestinians.
00:38 Something similar is what Canada is hoping to do now.
00:41 Melanie Jory has stated that some Israeli settlers will be sanctioned and authorities
00:45 will bring new sanctions on Hamas leaders.
00:48 Echoing the statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also emphasized the need to hold
00:52 those responsible for extremist violence in the West Bank accountable, jeopardizing peace,
00:56 stability and the two-state solution.
00:59 Speaking from Ukraine, Jory mentioned the active measures and work being done in Ottawa,
01:04 promising an announcement soon.
01:07 For the unaware, since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has controlled the West Bank,
01:11 a territory Palestinians seek for their independent state.
01:16 Israel's construction of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank is considered illegal by
01:20 most other countries, though Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical connections.
01:26 Since then, there have been a lot and lot of skirmishes between the Palestinians and
01:30 the Israelis over the West Bank.
01:32 Constantly, there have been attacks from both of the sides.
01:35 The 18 months leading up to the Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel saw heightened unrest in
01:41 the West Bank, escalating tensions after Israeli forces initiated a retaliatory offensive on
01:46 Gaza.
01:47 A joint statement from Britain, the European Union and a dozen other partner nations, including
01:51 Australia and Canada, has urged Israel to promptly address settler violence or face
01:56 the consequences.
01:57 An executive order by President Biden emphasized the intolerable events of extremist settler
02:03 violence, forced displacement and property destruction in the West Bank, constituting
02:07 a serious threat to peace, security and stability.
02:11 And so, the international community is increasingly urging Israel to take decisive action against
02:15 the settler violence in the West Bank or face the consequences.
02:19 There are calls to reinforce the importance of addressing this issue for regional peace
02:24 and security.
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