Ottawa: Canada, in collaboration with Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK, has announced sanctions against two far-right Israeli Cabinet ministers. The move targets Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for their roles in inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
According to Anadolu Agency, the joint statement from these countries emphasized that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been instrumental in encouraging extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. The statement condemned their rhetoric, which advocates for the forced displacement of Palestinians and the establishment of new Israeli settlements. The allies have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Israeli Government's handling of this issue, noting that violent acts continue to occur with impunity.
The situation in Gaza remains dire as the death toll climbs. The Health Ministry reported that at least 54,981 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's ongoing campaign in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. In the last 24 hours alone, 54 bodies were recovered, and 305 individuals were injured, bringing the total number of injured to 126,920. The ministry highlighted that many victims remain trapped under debris and inaccessible areas, complicating rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump has sustained the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles despite opposition from local leaders. The deployment, which includes roughly 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 US Marines, came under criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. They argue that the presence of military forces exacerbates tensions related to the president's immigration policies. Nonetheless, Trump asserts that the deployment has effectively curbed violence in the city.
In other news, the Trump administration is reportedly planning to transfer up to 9,000 undocumented migrants to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. This move is part of the administration's broader immigration enforcement strategy.