Sanctions imposed on Palestinian groups
Canada says it will recognize state at U.N.
By: Ben Adlere
and Dan Morrison
USA Today
..... The United States imposed sanctions on officials with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority as well as members of the Palestine liberation Organization, saying the groups are undermining peace efforts as U.S. officials separately seek to salvage ceasefire talks in the Middle East.
.....
Facing mounting international pressure over the widespread destruction of Gaza and constraints on aid in the territory, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met in Israel on July 31 [2025] with Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu.
..... The sanctions came after the 22-member Arab League called on Hamas to disarm and hand power in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.
..... Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney said July 30 [2025] his country intends to recognizes Palestinian state at the United Nations in September. [2025]
..... Carney told reporters the planned move was predicated on the Palestinian Authority's commitment to reforms. That includes fundamentally changing elections in 2026 in which Hamas - the militant group in charge of Gaza - can play no part.
..... He added that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs in the West Bank, "committed to not militarizing the state of Palestine."
..... However, the U.S. State Department told Reuters the two Palestinian groups had "taken action to internationalize its conflict with Israel," including though the International Criminal Court, adding both had continued "to sport terrorism."
.... The sanctions on the two groups prevent them from receiving visas to travel to the United States, the State Department said, although it did
not list nay specific individuals.
..... Representatives for the Palestinian Authority and the PLO could not immediately be reached for comment.
..... The Canadian leader's comments came during a two-day United Nations conference in New York on reaching a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians in the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank.
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Carney told reporters the realities of the war, including starvation of people in Gaza, meant "the prospect of a Palestinian sate is literally receding before our eyes."
..... "Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza," Carney said.
..... Canada's announcement came with in a week of France also declaring its intention to recognize a Palestinian state. France's foreign minister said July 31 [2025] that a U.S. - and Israeli-backed aid distribution system in Gaza had to cease activity.
..... "I want to call for the cessation of the activities of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the militarized distribution of humanitarian aid that has generated a bloodbath in distribution lines in Gaza, which is a scandal, which is shameful, and has to stop," foreign and European Affairs Minster Jean-Moel Barrot told reporters.
..... Pearler this week, a global hunger monitor said a famine scenario was unfolding in the Gaza Strip.
..... The enclave is in the grip of starvation brought on by a near-complete Israeli blockage of food and medical supplies.
....."Those children look very hungry," President Donald Trump said July 28, [2025] contradiction Netanvahu's assertion that there was no starvation in Gaza. "I want to make suer they get the food every once of food."
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Israel accuses Hamas fighters of stealing aid - which the militants deny - and the U.N. of failing to prevent it. The U.N. divergent much aid Hamas accuses Israel of causing starvation.
..... Barrot said France, in cooperation with Jordan, would carry out four humanitarian flights carrying 10 tons each of aid into Gaza on august 1. [2025]
..... On July 29, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his nation also is prepared to recognize a Palestinian state in September [2025] at the U.N. General Assembly unless Israel takes a number of steps to improve life for Palestinians such as allowing more aid into Gaza.
..... Hamas has consistently rejected calls to disarm or cede control of Gaza.
..... Israel criticized carney's announcement, saying it represented a reward to th militant group. approximately 1,200 Israelis, most of whom were civilians, were killed in the 2023 attack, and Hamas took hundreds hostage. Some are still begin held today. [07/30/2025]
..... The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages," the Israeli foreign ministry said July 31. [2025]
..... The Arab League has 22 members including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, most of whom are aligned against Iran, Hamas' most important backer. The league called on Hamas to disarm and hand power in Gaza to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority as part of a broader call for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
..... France and Saudi Arabia together issued a declaration July 29, [2025 backed by Egypt, Qatar and the Arab League.
..... Also on July 31, [2025] Johann Wadephul, Germany's foreign minister, said recognition of a Palestinian state should come at the end of talks on a two-state solution, but Berlin would respond to any unilateral cantons, after citing "annexation threats" by some Israeli ministers/
..... Contributing: Reuters