The UK, France, and Canada have jointly warned Israel that they will take “concrete actions” if it continues its “egregious” military expansion in Gaza, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and urgent humanitarian access.
In a unified statement, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Israel to cease military operations and allow life-saving aid into Gaza, which has been under a strict blockade since March 2. The leaders also called on Hamas to release the remaining hostages taken during the October 7 attack on southern Israel.
Responding sharply, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Western leaders of rewarding terrorism and undermining Israel’s security, calling their position a “huge prize” for Hamas.
Despite Netanyahu’s recent announcement to permit a “basic amount of food” into Gaza, the three leaders condemned the measure as “wholly inadequate” and warned that the ongoing denial of essential supplies could breach international humanitarian law. The UN has echoed concerns, saying the humanitarian aid currently reaching Gaza is a mere “drop in the ocean” compared to what is needed.
The Gaza war, which erupted after Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages on October 7, has resulted in more than 53,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The UK, France, and Canada reiterated their support for a ceasefire and a two-state solution, advocating for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel—a proposal Netanyahu strongly rejected, instead urging European leaders to embrace former U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for peace.
