Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations: SOR/2026-109

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 160, Number 12

Registration
SOR/2026-109 June 4, 2026

SPECIAL ECONOMIC MEASURES ACT

P.C. 2026-549 June 4, 2026

Whereas the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the actions of Israeli extremist settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories constitute a grave breach of international peace and security that has resulted in or is likely to result in a serious international crisis;

Therefore, Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations under paragraph 4(1)(a)footnote a and subsections 4(1.1)footnote b, (2)footnote c and (3) of the Special Economic Measures Act footnote d.

Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations

Amendments

1 Item 15 of Part 1 of the schedule to the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations footnote 1 is replaced by the following:

2 Part 1 of the schedule to the Regulations is amended by adding the following in numerical order:

3 Item 6 of Part 2 of the schedule to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

4 Part 2 of the schedule to the Regulations is amended by adding the following in numerical order:

Application Before Publication

5 For the purpose of paragraph 11(2)(a) of the Statutory Instruments Act, these Regulations apply according to their terms before they are published in the Canada Gazette.

Coming into Force

6 These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issues

There has been a significant surge in extremist settler violence by Israeli settlers and their affiliates against Palestinian civilians and their property in the West Bank since the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. The violence and frequency of these attacks have further escalated since the onset of the United States, Israel and Iran war that began on February 28, 2026.

This violence, combined with accelerated settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law, threatens the safety and rights of Palestinians, undermines the viability of a two-state solution, fuels instability, and undermines the peace and security of the State of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Background

The Fourth Geneva Convention applies in the occupied Palestinian territories and establishes Israel’s obligations as an occupying power, including with respect to the humane treatment of the inhabitants of the occupied territories. As referred to in United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465, and consistent with Canada’s long-standing policy, all Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The issue of extremist settler violence predates the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel. However, a sharp increase in extremist settler violence occurred after October 2023 and has remained consistently high since. In 2025, the most violent year on record, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported over 1 800 violent incidents involving extremist settlers. Further, these attacks have forcefully displaced at least 1 300 people, including more than 600 children. The severity of violent crimes committed by extremist settlers has also increased over the past few years, including through the use of weapons, killings, torture, physical and verbal assaults, trespassing, damage to private property, theft, vandalism, destruction of farming lands (including olive trees), killing of livestock, the blocking of humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, and various other forms of harassment and intimidation by Israeli extremist settlers. These actions have resulted in casualties, property damage, or both, as well as further forced displacement of Palestinians, and have been accompanied by a growing sense of impunity, driven by limited prosecutions and accountability for perpetrators. Additionally, according to the UN and local non-governmental organizations and human rights groups, the frequency of attacks by extremist settlers has risen considerably since the onset of the United States, Israel and Iran war on February 28, 2026.

While various factors contribute to extremist settler violence, a key source stems from ultranationalist figures in the current Israeli governing coalition who continue to pursue policies to advance the case for Israeli settlements in the West Bank (and, in some instances, in Gaza) and who provide public and financial support to extremist settlers. The advancement of these policies, including the expansion of the settlement enterprise and apparatus, has contributed to the recent rise in extremist settler violence, posing a threat to the viability of a two-state solution, contributing to regional destabilization, and undermining international peace and security.

International response

Canada and its G7 partners have repeatedly expressed concern regarding the growing rate of extremist settler violence and settlement expansion. In November 2024 and throughout 2025, most G7 leaders continued to voice concerns over West Bank security, urging all sides to avoid unilateral or decisive actions, such as settlement expansion or annexation, which threatens the viability of a two-state solution, and strongly condemning the rise in settler violence against Palestinians. In September 2025, Canada, along with Australia, France and the United Kingdom (U.K.), recognized the State of Palestine and pledged support for a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis.

With respect to sanctions measures, Canada and like-minded partners, including Australia, the European Union, New Zealand, Norway, and the U.K., have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions in 2024 and 2025 on individuals and entities involved directly or indirectly in violence against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Canadian sanctions against extremist settler violence

On May 16, 2024, the Government of Canada enacted the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations (the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA), in response to the escalation of violence against Palestinians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories that constituted a grave breach of international peace and security that had resulted in or was likely to result in a serious international crisis. Since May 2024, Canada has sanctioned a total of 19 individuals and 12 entities, including these amendments, for their role in directly or indirectly facilitating, supporting, providing funding for, or contributing to extremist settler violence.

Objective

The Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations (the amendments) aim to

Description

The amendments add two individuals and five entities to the Schedule of the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations for their actions, which undermine the peace and security of the State of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories by directly or indirectly facilitating, supporting, providing funding for or contributing to the use — or the threatened or attempted use — of violence by Israeli extremist settlers against Palestinian civilians or their property. Among the listed individuals and entities are extremist settlers and organizations that promote and/or engage in violence against Palestinians and advocate for settlement expansion.

The amendments also include a correction to the name of a previously listed individual and include his date of birth, as well as the addition of aliases for a previously listed entity for clarification purposes.

Any person in Canada or Canadian outside Canada is thereby prohibited from dealing in the property of, entering into transactions with, providing services to, transferring property to, or otherwise making goods available to listed persons (individuals and entities). These measures will also render listed individuals inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Under the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations, listed persons may apply to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to have their name removed from the Schedule of designated persons. The Minister must determine whether there are reasonable grounds to make a recommendation to the Governor in Council for removal.

Regulatory development

Consultation

Global Affairs Canada regularly engages with relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, cultural communities and other like-minded governments regarding Canada’s approach to sanctions implementation.

With respect to the amendments, public consultation would not have been appropriate given that publicizing the names of the persons targeted by sanctions would have likely resulted in asset flight prior to the coming into force of the amendments.

Indigenous engagement, consultation and modern treaty obligations

In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation, an analysis was undertaken to determine whether the amendments are likely to give rise to modern treaty obligations. The assessment examined the geographical scope and subject matter of the amendments in relation to modern treaties in effect, and no modern treaty obligations were identified.

Instrument choice

The imposition of sanctions against foreign states and non-state actors is a key tool for the international community to support peace and security and enforce international norms and laws. The Parliament of Canada has enacted legislation authorizing the imposition of sanctions through the United Nations Act (UNA), the SEMA and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act.

Canada has established a rigorous due diligence process to consider and evaluate possible cases that may warrant the use of sanctions. Given the elements proposed in the amendments, the SEMA was identified as the instrument of choice.

Sanctions measures under the SEMA are imposed by the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, through a regulatory process. Regulations are the sole method to enact sanctions in Canada. No other instrument could be considered.

Regulatory analysis

Benefits and costs

The incremental cost to the Government of Canada to administer and enforce these additional prohibitions is minimal. The amendments target specific individuals and entities, and as such have less impact on Canadian businesses than traditional broad-based economic sanctions and have a limited impact on the citizens of the country of the listed individuals and entities. Global Affairs Canada’s review of publicly available trade data indicates that the newly listed individuals and entities have limited linkages with Canada and, therefore, do not have significant business dealings that are significant to the Canadian economy. It is anticipated that there will be no significant impacts on Canadians and Canadian businesses as a result of these amendments.

The Canada Border Services Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other departments and agencies will incur a small cost to ensure their relevant systems include the persons listed through these amendments. Canadian financial institutions are required to incorporate the newly listed individuals and entities into their existing compliance and monitoring systems. This may result in a minor administrative cost, but overall incremental compliance costs are anticipated to remain low.

Small business lens

Analysis under the small business lens concluded that the amendments would not impact Canadian small businesses. The amendments listing new individuals and entities do not impose new compliance or administrative burden on small businesses in Canada. The amendments prohibit Canadian businesses from dealing with, providing services to, or otherwise making goods available to listed persons, but do not create any direct administrative obligations related to them. While Canadian businesses may seek permits under the Special Economic Measures Permit Authorization Order, Global Affairs Canada does not anticipate any applications resulting from listing these persons; thus, there would be no incremental administrative burden arising from this requirement. Canadian small businesses are also subject to the duty to disclose under the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations, which would represent a direct compliance requirement. However, as the newly listed persons have limited known linkages with Canada, Global Affairs Canada does not anticipate any disclosures resulting from the amendments.

One-for-one rule

The one-for-one rule does not apply, as there is no incremental change in administrative burden on businesses. The permitting process for businesses meets the definition of “administrative burden” in the Red Tape Reduction Act. However, while permits may be granted under the Special Economic Measures Permit Authorization Order on an exceptional basis, given that the listed persons have limited business ties to the Canadian economy, Global Affairs Canada does not anticipate any permit applications with respect to the amendments.

Regulatory cooperation and alignment

While the amendments are not related to a work plan or commitment under a formal regulatory cooperation forum, they align with actions taken by Canada’s allies and partners, such as the European Union and the U.K.

International obligations

Compliance with Canada’s international commitments was considered in the development of the amendments.

Effects on the environment

The amendments are unlikely to result in important environmental effects. In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment, a preliminary scan concluded that a strategic environmental and economic assessment is not required.

Gender-based analysis plus

None of the newly listed individuals have Canadian citizenship. As a result, the scope of the gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) is limited. The subject of economic sanctions has previously been assessed for effects on gender and diversity. Although intended to facilitate a change in behaviour through economic pressure on individuals and entities in foreign states, sanctions under the SEMA can nevertheless have an unintended impact on certain vulnerable groups and individuals. Rather than affecting the whole region, these targeted sanctions impact individuals believed to be engaged in activities that contribute to a grave breach of international peace and security. Therefore, these targeted sanctions limit the collateral effects to those dependent on listed individuals and entities and are unlikely to have a significant impact on vulnerable groups as compared to traditional broad-based economic sanctions directed toward a state.

Implementation, compliance and enforcement, and service standards

The amendments come into force on the day they are registered.

Consequential to being listed in the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations, and pursuant to the application of paragraph 35.1(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the listed individuals are rendered inadmissible to Canada.

The names of the listed individuals and entities will be available online for financial institutions to review and will be added to the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List. This will help to facilitate compliance with the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations.

The Trade Commissioner Service for Global Affairs Canada continues to assist clients in understanding Canadian sanctions regulations and, notably, the impact of the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations on any activities in which Canadians may be engaged, abroad and in Canada. Global Affairs Canada is also increasing outreach efforts across Canada — including engaging with businesses, universities, and provincial/territorial governments — to enhance national awareness of and compliance with Canadian sanctions.

Under the SEMA, both Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Border Services Agency officers have the power to enforce sanctions violations through their authorities, as defined under the Customs Act, the Excise Act or the Excise Act, 2001, and sections 487 to 490, 491.1 and 491.2 of the Criminal Code.

In accordance with section 8 of the SEMA, every person who knowingly contravenes or fails to comply with the Extremist Settler Violence Regulations is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both; or, upon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.

Contact

Global Affairs Canada
Sanctions Bureau
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Telephone (toll-free): 1‑833‑352‑0769
Telephone (local): 343‑203‑3975
Fax: 613‑995‑9085
Email: sanctions@international.gc.ca