Three of Israel’s allies — Britain, France and Canada — have issued a joint statement attacking Israel’s expansion of military action in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will “take control” of the strip, an escalation of the conflict his allies called “egregious”.
The conditions in Gaza were “intolerable”, the allies said, as they called on the Israeli leader to “immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.”
No aid has been allowed into Gaza since 2 March — a situation aid groups, including the United Nations, have condemned.
On Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel would allow a “basic amount of food” to enter the enclave following the 11-week pause.
Far-right members of his own cabinet criticised the decision to allow even a trickle of aid into Gaza. Netanyahu shared a video on social media explaining that he was influenced by international pressure to allow humanitarian supplies into the territory.
This was “wholly inadequate”, the three leaders said. The “denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law”.
The three allied governments threatened “concrete action” if Israel does not end its offensive and allow aid back into the strip.
Netanyahu responded to the message, insisting that Israel would continue its actions until total victory was achieved.
“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 said.
He called on all “European leaders” to follow Trump’s “vision” for ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
He acknowledged that Israel’s “greatest friends in the world” had expressed concern over images of civilians starving in the Gaza Strip.
Us President Donald Trump voiced criticism over the hunger crisis in the enclave during a visit to the region, which did not include a stop in Israel, last week.
Israel launched a new ground offensive inside Gaza almost immediately after Trump ended his tour.
ADVEReadNOWISEMENTA wave of airstrikes killed hundreds over the weekend in the territory, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
“The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip,” Netanyahu announced in a video posted on Telegram on Monday.
The statement from the UK, France and Canada reiterated support for a ceasefire and a “two-state solution”, whereby a Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel.
The three nations also said they opposed “any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank”, which they called “illegal.”
ADVEReadNOWISEMENTIn a separate letter issued on Monday, the foreign ministries of Germany, Italy, Japan and 18 other countries called for Israel to fully reopen humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza by the United Nations and other NGOs.