1 day Ago
Allied Patience Runs Out
Israel's offensive on Gaza – initiated following Hamas's deadly assaults on 7 October 2023 - is now under withering fire from some of its closest friends. The United States still offers military support, but the European, Canada and United Kingdom have joined in a strong public denunciation of Israel's behavior in the war.
The three countries' joint statement calls for an immediate end to Israel's latest offensive but says the "intolerable" human toll there should prompt new peace efforts. They stress their prior support for Israel's right to defend itself following the killing of 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages by Hamas — but now denounce the military escalation as "wholly disproportionate."
Netanyahu Resists as World Pressure Mounts
In return, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the leaders of London, Paris and Ottawa of "giving a prize to terror" with their decision to lift the embargo in the days following the 7 October attack. He said the war would stop only when Hamas returned the "kidnapped" and "disarmed" and Gaza was demilitarised.
Netanyahu, who has been under intense domestic and international pressure, recently agreed to let some aid into Gaza following an 11-week blockade. But opponents — including his far-right coalition partners — insist the move went far enough. On Monday, only five aid trucks entered Gaza, while Israel's troops pursued air and ground assaults that killed more civilians, including children.
International anger flared after 15 paramedics and aid workers in a convoy were killed on 23 March. Israel's claim was that they posed a threat, but video retrieved from a mass grave showed that the aid vehicles were fully marked and systematically attacked. This is often viewed as a tipping point that spurred Western allies to act.
Talk Grows of Sanctions and 'Recognition' For Palestinians
Speaking at an EU-UK summit in London, European Council President Antonio Costa said international law was being "systematically violated" in Gaza. The statement from France, the UK and Canada warned of "further concrete steps" if Israel does not halt its offensive and lift humanitarian controls. No specifics were mentioned, but sanctions and recognition of Palestinian statehood are said to be on the table.
Such recognition might come at a June conference in New York that France plans to co-host with Saudi Arabia. The UK is also in talks with the French on the matter.
Despite warnings from Israel that such steps will be a boon to Hamas, diplomats said frustration is growing over what they see as Israel's disrespect of international law and humanitarian considerations.
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