In an official press release, six governments announced Tuesday that they will impose sanctions on several persons enabling settler violence in the West Bank and occupied Palestinian lands.
The sanctions are coming from Canada, France, New Zealand, the UK, Australia and Norway as a joint effort against a total of six individuals or groups who have supported and sponsored violence against Palestinian communities.
The UK stated that this move was essential to recognize the illegality of settler expansion and protect the viability of the two-state solution. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that they will also be providing an additional £1 million for humanitarian action in Gaza to “support implementation of the 20-Point Plan for Gaza and protect and strengthen a viable Palestinian state.”
Canada’s Global Affairs implemented asset freezes and dealings prohibitions for listed individuals. In February 2025, Canada issued the Special Economic Measures Permit Authorization Order and then added the (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations. The regulations allow the Minister of Foreign Affairs to issue permits or list people deemed to undermine the security of the State of Israel and the occupied Palestinian lands. The regulations were specifically amended this week to add two individuals and five entities.
France forbade entry to Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Minister of Finances. French Minister Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot accused him of inciting violence against Palestinians and being directly responsible for intensifying colonization on the West Bank.
Australia urged the government of Israel to end settlement expansion and prosecute those responsible for settler violence. They ended their statement reminding them that they will not hesitate to take further action if Israel does not take steps to improve the situation.
This is not the first time these governments have allied with each other, with all the countries previously rallying together in September 2025 to formally recognize the State of Palestine.
