UK, France and Canada warn Israel of concrete measures over Gaza crisis

Tuesday 20 May 2025 - 16:59

By: Zahouani Ilham

UK, France and Canada warn Israel of concrete measures over Gaza crisis

The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have expressed deep concern over the escalating military actions in Gaza, threatening to implement “concrete measures” against Israel if it does not halt its intensified offensive and ease restrictions on aid.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared in Parliament that the ongoing escalation by Israel is horrifying and reiterated the demand for an immediate ceasefire. In a joint statement, Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Israel’s recent military actions as “wholly disproportionate,” emphasizing the intolerable human suffering in Gaza.

The leaders also criticized Israeli settlement expansions in the occupied West Bank, declaring them illegal, and warned of further actions, including targeted sanctions, if Israel continues its current policies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots aimed at controlling Gaza after cutting off essential supplies in March, accused the three nations of rewarding Hamas by criticizing Israel.

The trio denounced Netanyahu’s recent allowance of limited aid trucks into Gaza as insufficient and warned that Israel’s policies risk violating international humanitarian law. They expressed refusal to remain passive as Israel undertakes “egregious actions,” condemning inflammatory rhetoric by Israeli officials advocating forced displacement, which they stressed is illegal.

Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zumlot, urged these countries to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and hold war criminals accountable through international legal institutions.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese questioned how sanctions would be effectively targeted, stressing that the entire Israeli government, not just its leader, must be held responsible.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called Israel’s partial lifting of the blockade “totally insufficient,” labeling the situation in Gaza as a “death trap” due to indiscriminate violence and humanitarian aid blockades.

As 23 countries, including the UK, France, and Canada, issued a joint statement demanding Israel allow humanitarian aid into Gaza to prevent starvation, the humanitarian crisis grows worse. The statement criticized Israel’s plan for aid delivery under military protection, which risks politicizing humanitarian assistance and endangering workers and recipients.

Amnesty International condemned the delay in global action to pressure Israel to lift its siege, calling it “outrageous and morally reprehensible.”

Meanwhile, Israeli military operations have intensified, with at least 87 deaths and 290 injuries reported in the past 24 hours. The Gaza Health Ministry reported a total death toll of over 53,000 and more than 121,000 injured since the conflict began.