The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have issued a stern warning to Israel, saying they will take "concrete actions" if Israel continues what they described as a severe escalation of its military campaign in Gaza.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in urging Israel to "stop its military operations" and to "immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza."
Since March 2, no food, fuel, or medicine has been allowed into the enclave, a situation the United Nations previously said was having a "disastrous toll" on Palestinians.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the three nations of giving a "huge prize" to Hamas in the ongoing conflict.
On Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel would permit a "basic amount of food" into Gaza after an 11-week blockade, but affirmed intentions to "control all of Gaza."
The three Western leaders criticized this response as "wholly inadequate," warning that "the denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law." They further described the humanitarian suffering in Gaza as "intolerable."
The joint statement also condemned "the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate." They stressed that "permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law."
Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian relief chief and a former British diplomat, noted that the number of aid trucks approved to enter Gaza amounted to only a "drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed."
The leaders acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense but said: "We have always supported Israel's right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate."
Starmer, Macron, and Carney also called for the immediate release of hostages still held by Hamas following the "heinous attack" on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
The conflict was sparked by the Hamas-led assault that left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Of the hostages, around 58 remain in Gaza, with up to 23 believed to still be alive.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas, over 53,000 Palestinians have died in Israel's military operations since the war began.
In their joint statement, the UK, France, and Canada reaffirmed their support for a ceasefire and for a "two-state solution," which envisions a sovereign Palestinian state coexisting alongside Israel.
Netanyahu pushed back, 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 urged "all European leaders" to adopt former US President Donald Trump's approach to resolving the conflict.
Source: BBC