The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have issued a strong warning to Israel, threatening to take concrete actions if the country continues its aggressive military operations in Gaza. In a unified statement, UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, called on the Israeli government to cease its military actions and allow for the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Since March 2, no food, fuel, or medicine has been permitted into Gaza, creating a dire humanitarian situation. The United Nations has previously described this blockade as having a disastrous impact on the Palestinian population. In response to these concerns, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the three leaders offered a "huge prize" to Hamas amid the ongoing conflict.
On Sunday, Netanyahu announced that Israel would allow a minimal amount of food to enter Gaza after an extensive 11-week blockade. However, he emphasized that Israel intends to maintain control over all of Gaza, prompting criticism from the three Western leaders who deemed this action wholly inadequate. They stated that denying essential humanitarian assistance to civilians is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law.
The leaders condemned the abhorrent language used by some members of the Israeli government, which suggested that civilians may begin to relocate due to the destruction in Gaza. They highlighted that permanent forced displacement constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.
Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian relief chief and a former British diplomat, noted that the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza is merely a "drop in the ocean" compared to what is urgently required. While the leaders expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism, they asserted that the current military escalation is wholly disproportionate.
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Mark Carney also called for the immediate release of the remaining hostages taken during the heinous Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and left 251 individuals taken hostage, with around 58 hostages still believed to be in Gaza, of which up to 23 are thought to be alive.
According to Gaza's health ministry, which operates under Hamas, over 53,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives during Israel's military campaign. In their statement, the leaders reiterated their support for a ceasefire and emphasized the necessity of implementing a two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state coexisting alongside Israel.
In response to the calls for a ceasefire and a two-state solution, Netanyahu criticized the leaders for suggesting that Israel should end its defensive actions before neutralizing the Hamas terrorist threat. He argued that such demands are tantamount to offering a significant reward for the attacks on Israel and could potentially invite further atrocities.
Netanyahu also urged European leaders to align with US President Donald Trump's vision for resolving the longstanding conflict, indicating a preference for a more hardline approach in dealing with the situation in Gaza.
