London, Paris, Ottawa – In an unprecedented joint statement, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada have issued a stern warning to Israel, threatening to take “concrete actions” should it persist with what the leaders describe as the “egregious” expansion of its military campaign in Gaza.
British Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney jointly called on the Israeli government to immediately cease military operations and allow the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the humanitarian situation has reached what they term “intolerable” levels.
“No food, fuel, or medicine has been allowed into Gaza since March 2,” the leaders stated. The United Nations has described the blockade as having a “disastrous toll” on Gaza’s civilian population, already reeling from months of bombardment.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the criticism, accusing the Western leaders of handing Hamas a “huge prize” in the ongoing conflict. He asserted Israel’s right to “take control of all of Gaza,” reiterating his country’s stance on national security and the defeat of Hamas.
While Netanyahu announced plans on Sunday to permit a “basic amount of food” into Gaza after an 11-week-long blockade, the gesture was deemed “wholly inadequate” by the UK, France, and Canada. “The denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law,” they said.
The statement also condemned what they called “abhorrent language” by Israeli government officials, who have allegedly suggested that Palestinian civilians may be forced to relocate due to the destruction. “Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law,” the leaders underscored.
Tom Fletcher, the United Nations humanitarian relief chief and a former British diplomat, added his voice to the growing criticism. He described the small number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza as a “drop in the ocean” compared to what is urgently needed.
Despite their sharp rebuke, the three Western leaders reaffirmed their long-standing support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism. “We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate,” the statement read.
The leaders also called for the immediate release of hostages still held in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel. That attack, described as “heinous” by Starmer, Macron, and Carney, left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Of those, 58 hostages remain unaccounted for, with up to 23 believed to be alive.
The Gaza Health Ministry, which is operated by Hamas, claims that over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign.
In their statement, the UK, France, and Canada renewed their call for an immediate ceasefire and pressed for the implementation of a two-state solution, an internationally supported framework proposing the peaceful coexistence of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Netanyahu, however, forcefully rejected the proposal, stating, “By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa, and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities.”
He also called on other European nations to reject the Western trio’s position and instead embrace former U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza and diplomatic tensions escalate, the world watches closely to see whether Israel will change course or if international pressure will mount into formal action against one of the world’s most contentious and protracted conflicts.
Written By Rodney Mbua
