2025-05-20T02:17:00Z

On May 19, 2025, a coalition of leaders from Britain, France, and Canada came together to denounce Israel's recent military actions in Gaza, labeling them as 'egregious.' In a joint statement, they expressed their serious concerns regarding Israel’s intensified military operations and threatened to take coordinated measures if these actions did not cease. The leaders emphasized the urgent need for a halt to these operations and the necessity for Israel to lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid that have left the Gaza population in dire straits.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney united in their condemnation, highlighting the repercussions of Israel's military strategy, which has severely restricted the flow of essential humanitarian aid into Gaza. They pointedly criticized the alarming rhetoric used by Israeli ministers, which has included threats of mass displacement of Palestinians in the region. 'We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions,' they stated, urging immediate changes to Israel’s military approach.

In a tweet that accompanied their joint declaration, Mark Carney expressed, 'We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday's announcement that Israel will allow limited aid is a step, but not enough.'

The collective statement from these leaders also aligned with the demands of 22 nations, which include the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, asserting that the nearly 2 million residents of the territory are facing a dire humanitarian crisis and potential starvation.

Since March 2, Israel has maintained a stringent blockade on aid entering Gaza. However, on the day of the leaders' statement, Israel announced it would permit a limited number of aid trucks to enter the territory. Prime Minister Netanyahu justified this minor concession by suggesting that images portraying mass starvation could undermine the legitimacy of Israel's ongoing military operations.

In their statement, the leaders expressed that Israel's 'denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law.' They also took issue with recent incendiary language from Israeli government officials, who suggested that civilians in Gaza might need to 'relocate' due to the destruction caused by military strikes. They underscored that any form of forced displacement constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

Netanyahu’s response was one of indignation, as he labeled the leaders' demands as a significant concession to Hamas during a critical military campaign. '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,' he stated, referencing the Hamas attacks that catalyzed the current conflict.

He also urged European leaders to follow the lead of U.S. President Donald Trump in supporting Israel's right to defend itself. 'The war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled, and Gaza is demilitarized. No nation can be expected to accept anything less,' Netanyahu asserted, framing the conflict as a struggle between civilization and barbarism. He further reiterated that Israel would continue its military campaign until it achieves total victory.

The current conflict, which has seen Israel ramping up its military offensive in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, has resulted in substantial casualties on both sides. According to reports from the Israeli military, 1,218 Israeli fatalities have been documented, primarily among civilians. Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reports that since the resumption of strikes on March 18, at least 3,340 Palestinians have lost their lives, bringing the overall toll in the ongoing conflict to a staggering 53,486.