Western Nations Warn Israel Over Gaza Attacks
The United Kingdom, Canada, and France have strongly warned Israel to stop its renewed military attacks and aid restrictions in the Gaza Strip, also known as the Palestinian enclave. If Israel does not stop, these countries have said they may impose sanctions.
This information was reported by the news outlet Al Jazeera.
Statement by the UK Government
On Monday, May 19, the UK government released a joint statement along with Canada and France. In the statement, they said:
“Israel’s refusal to provide essential humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza is unacceptable. This puts Israel at risk of violating international humanitarian law. We also oppose any expansion of settlements in the West Bank. We will not hesitate to take further actions, including specific sanctions.”
Netanyahu’s Reaction to the Statement
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the leaders of the UK, Canada, and France. He said:
“The leaders of London, Ottawa, and Paris are offering a big reward to the massacre that happened in Israel on October 7. This kind of attitude invites more brutal attacks.”
Netanyahu stated that Israel will continue to defend itself in a just way until total victory is achieved. He also repeated his demands to end the war:
- Release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas
- Disarmament of the Gaza Strip (making it a non-military zone)
This was reported by Reuters.
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Blockade of Gaza Since March
Since early March 2025, Israel has blocked the entry of essential supplies like medicine, food, and fuel into Gaza. This move is intended to pressure Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, to release the Israeli hostages they captured during their attack on October 7, 2023.
The present war began when Hamas fighters entered Israel during that raid and abducted hostages.
Support for Israel’s Right to Self-Defence — But with Limits
In the joint statement, the leaders — Keir Starmer (UK), Emmanuel Macron (France), and Mark Carney (Canada) — said:
“We have always supported Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism. But the current escalation is completely disproportionate.”
They also said they cannot support the tragic actions of the Netanyahu government in Gaza.
Call for Immediate Ceasefire
The three countries expressed support for the ongoing efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. They stressed the importance of ending the war quickly to save civilian lives and ensure humanitarian aid can reach those in need.
Background of the Conflict
Israel began its military operations in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. The blockade of aid and supplies started in March 2025, with the aim of pressuring Hamas to release the hostages.
Although the three Western countries initially supported Israel’s right to fight terrorism, they now believe that Israel’s current actions have gone too far and are causing unacceptable suffering to civilians.
Source: ChanneliOnline
