Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing them of siding with Hamas and being "on the wrong side of humanity."
In a strongly worded video message released after Thursday’s fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, Netanyahu claimed the leaders had "effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power." He further accused them of aligning with “mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers.”
In his video, Netanyahu said Hamas wanted to destroy Israel and annihilate the Jewish people. He said the Palestinian armed group had welcomed the joint UK, French and Canadian criticism of Israel's war conduct.
Some of Israel's closest allies wanted Israel to "stand down and accept that Hamas's army of mass murderers will survive", he said.
"I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice," he added.
Gaza's main hospital overwhelmed with children in pain from malnutrition
"You're on the wrong side of humanity, and you're on the wrong side of history."
Netanyahu also condemned remarks by UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on infant deaths in Gaza, calling them false and blaming such claims for inciting violence like the Washington shooting.
"A few days ago, a top UN official said that 14,000 Palestinian babies would die in 48 hours. You see many international institutions are complicit in spreading this lie," he said.
"The press repeats it. The mob believed it. And a young couple is then brutally gunned down in Washington."
In the days before the Thursday’s shooting, the UK, France, and Canada criticised Israel’s intensified military campaign in Gaza as “disproportionate,” calling the humanitarian situation “intolerable.”
While Sir Keir condemned the Washington killings and denounced antisemitism, he also said Israel’s limited aid access to Gaza was “utterly inadequate,” prompting the UK to pause trade talks with Israel.
The attack in Washington left Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, dead at a Capital Jewish Museum event. Police arrested suspect Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who reportedly shouted “free Palestine” during his arrest.
Social media accounts linked to him suggest ties to pro-Palestinian movements. Authorities are investigating writings in which he accused Israel of genocide and criticised US policy.
With inputs from BBC