By Peter Omopo
The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have jointly warned Israel of potential sanctions should it continue its intensified military operations in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by the BBC on Monday.
In a coordinated statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Israel to halt its offensive and immediately facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The leaders described the humanitarian conditions in the enclave as “intolerable,” citing a full blockade that has restricted access to food, fuel, and medicine since early March.
The joint warning stated that if Israel fails to comply, the three countries would be forced to consider “concrete actions” in response to what they described as a worsening crisis and potential breaches of international humanitarian law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the criticism, accusing the Western leaders of undermining Israel’s security and emboldening Hamas. He maintained that calls for a ceasefire and a Palestinian state amount to a reward for terrorism and vowed to continue operations until the militant group is defeated.
Netanyahu, however, said over the weekend that Israel would allow a “basic amount of food” into Gaza after an 11-week blockade, while reaffirming plans to retain full control over the territory. The UK, France, and Canada dismissed the move as “wholly inadequate.”
