Canada will impose sanctions on Israeli settlers who incite violence in the West Bank and impose new sanctions on Hamas leaders, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on Sunday, after the United States recently took similar measures, Reuters reported, according to News.ro.

On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions against four Israelis accused of involvement in violence in the occupied territory.

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp on Sunday, Joly said some settlers “will be subject to sanctions”. “We will also apply new sanctions to the leaders of Hamas.”

“We are actively working on it,” Joly said, speaking from Ukraine. “I’ve made sure that while I’m in Ukraine, work is being done in Ottawa, and I look forward to making an announcement soon.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that he is considering imposing sanctions against “extremist” settlers in the West Bank.

After the 1967 Middle East war, Israel occupied the West Bank near the Jordan River, which the Palestinians want to make the core of an independent state. He built Jewish settlements there, which most countries consider illegal. Israel denies this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land.

Eighteen months before Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, the West Bank had already seen its worst riots in decades. Clashes there escalated sharply after Israeli forces launched a retaliatory attack on Gaza.