Canada’s Sanctions on Perpetrators of Israeli Extremist Settler Violence Insufficient Without Measures Against Israeli Government
May 16, 2024
Justice for All Canada extends appreciation to the Government of Canada for its decisive action in imposing the country’s first sanctions against Israeli perpetrators of extremist settler violence in the West Bank. This principled stance sends a strong message that acts of violence and aggression against Palestinian civilians are unacceptable and must be met with consequences. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, notably the West Bank and East Jerusalem, represents a form of settler colonialism characterized by Israeli land confiscation, discriminatory laws, and unequal resource distribution favouring settlers.
While these sanctions targeting individual extremist settlers represent a step in the right direction, Canada must go further by unequivocally condemning settlements and penalizing the Israeli government for enabling their expansion. Additionally, today’s announcement must be followed by measures to sanction Israeli government officials responsible for violent and discriminatory policies and state-level hate speech that fuels and incites violence against Palestinians.
“Policy measures against Israeli settlers are a significant yet long-awaited step, especially when compared to similar actions in response to similar human rights violators,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada. “It’s a necessary yet late recognition of the seriousness and urgency of addressing settler violence and its impact on Palestinian civil society,” added Ghayyur.
The recent escalation of settler violence in the West Bank has been deeply troubling. Since October 7, 2023, at least 466 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, including 112 children. Attacks against Palestinians have more than doubled, with an average of eight incidents per day, leading to a drastic increase in Palestinians displaced due to settlement expansion, now reaching 280 individuals monthly. These attacks, including physical assaults, property damage, and livestock loss, have caused immense suffering and insecurity among Palestinian communities including casualties, forced displacement, and irreversible damage to livelihoods. We share concerns expressed by Hon. Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly regarding the grave breach of international peace and security posed by these violent and destabilizing actions.
The history of violent dispossession of Palestinians is intricately linked to Israeli settler colonialism and the violations of international law. Canadian complicity in the ongoing crisis is evidenced through its economic ties, political support, and military cooperation with Israel, contributing to the perpetuation of settler colonialism and violations of international law against Palestinians. Since the Nakba in 1948, Palestinians have endured forcible displacement, denial of their right of return, and ongoing marginalization. These actions blatantly contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory and mandates the protection of civilians under occupation.
Justice for All Canada extends appreciation to the Government of Canada for its decisive action in imposing the country’s first sanctions against Israeli perpetrators of extremist settler violence in the West Bank. This principled stance sends a strong message that acts of violence and aggression against Palestinian civilians are unacceptable and must be met with consequences. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, notably the West Bank and East Jerusalem, represents a form of settler colonialism characterized by Israeli land confiscation, discriminatory laws, and unequal resource distribution favouring settlers.
While these sanctions targeting individual extremist settlers represent a step in the right direction, Canada must go further by unequivocally condemning settlements and penalizing the Israeli government for enabling their expansion. Additionally, today’s announcement must be followed by measures to sanction Israeli government officials responsible for violent and discriminatory policies and state-level hate speech that fuels and incites violence against Palestinians.
“Policy measures against Israeli settlers are a significant yet long-awaited step, especially when compared to similar actions in response to similar human rights violators,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada. “It’s a necessary yet late recognition of the seriousness and urgency of addressing settler violence and its impact on Palestinian civil society,” added Ghayyur.
The recent escalation of settler violence in the West Bank has been deeply troubling. Since October 7, 2023, at least 466 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, including 112 children. Attacks against Palestinians have more than doubled, with an average of eight incidents per day, leading to a drastic increase in Palestinians displaced due to settlement expansion, now reaching 280 individuals monthly. These attacks, including physical assaults, property damage, and livestock loss, have caused immense suffering and insecurity among Palestinian communities including casualties, forced displacement, and irreversible damage to livelihoods. We share concerns expressed by Hon. Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly regarding the grave breach of international peace and security posed by these violent and destabilizing actions.
The history of violent dispossession of Palestinians is intricately linked to Israeli settler colonialism and the violations of international law. Canadian complicity in the ongoing crisis is evidenced through its economic ties, political support, and military cooperation with Israel, contributing to the perpetuation of settler colonialism and violations of international law against Palestinians. Since the Nakba in 1948, Palestinians have endured forcible displacement, denial of their right of return, and ongoing marginalization. These actions blatantly contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory and mandates the protection of civilians under occupation.