Canada imposes sanctions on Hamas leaders following Israeli attack
Canada imposed sanctions on Tuesday against 11 leaders and supporters of Hamas who, according to Ottawa, are behind the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement in Israel on October 7, reports Agerpres.ro.
The sanctions, which consist of an asset freeze and a travel ban to Canada, come two weeks after a similar announcement by the United Kingdom and the United States against some Hamas financiers.
Canadian sanctions specifically target Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack, military leader Mohammed Deif and a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad official, Akram al-Ajouri.
In a press release, Ottawa states that these individuals are being targeted because of their role within Hamas or participation "in the planning, financing and execution of the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel."
"Canada unequivocally condemns Hamas' terrorist attack against Israel, its unacceptable treatment of hostages and its heinous use of sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of war," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Tuesday.
Hamas has been on the Canadian government's list of "terrorist" entities since 2002.
