(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is considering imposing sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank accused of attacking Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in the territory.
The US State Department on Thursday imposed financial sanctions against Israelis living in illegal settlements that Washington says are linked to the “escalation of violence” against Palestinians.
Ottawa has not followed the United States in imposing travel bans on those responsible for what Mr. Trudeau called “extremist settler violence,” saying those who commit certain crimes are already supposed to be barred from entry into the country.
Speaking to reporters in Waterloo, Ontario, Prime Minister Trudeau also gave no update on the case of Mansour Shouman, a Canadian citizen in Gaza who was documenting humanitarian efforts during Israel’s raging war and Hamas.
Mr. Shouman’s contacts abroad say they lost contact with him about two weeks ago and say eyewitnesses saw Israeli military officials taking him away.
Mr. Trudeau would not say whether he had spoken about this matter with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said that officials were “seized” of the matter and were working with “all partners” to understand this. that happened, including the Israeli government.
The Israeli embassy in Ottawa did not respond to requests for comment on Mr. Shouman on Thursday and Friday.