UK, France and Canada threaten action as Israel vows to take over Gaza

 Allies Warn Israel: Halt Gaza Offensive or Face Sanctions Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, several of Israel's closest allies — including Britain, France, and Canada — have issued a strongly worded joint statement, warning the Israeli government to immediately halt its military offensive and allow full humanitarian access into the Gaza Strip. The move signals a growing rift between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and countries that have long supported Israel diplomatically and militarily.

The joint statement condemned Israel’s recent escalation in Gaza as “egregious,” and described the current conditions in the besieged enclave as “intolerable.” It marked one of the most explicit international rebukes of Israel’s military strategy in the conflict to date.

“The denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law,” the three leaders declared, calling for the unhindered entry of aid and warning of concrete consequences, including targeted sanctions, if Israel refuses to comply.

Gaza Cut Off from Aid for Over Two Months

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has dramatically deteriorated since March 2, when all aid shipments into the region were suspended. International aid organisations, including the United Nations, have decried the blockade, warning that famine-like conditions are spreading across Gaza, especially in the north where civilians are most vulnerable.

Following an 11-week pause, Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel would allow only a “basic amount of food” to enter the enclave — a gesture which aid groups and allied nations deemed inadequate and symbolic at best.

“This is wholly inadequate,” said the UK, France, and Canada. “The population of Gaza is starving. The Israeli government must act immediately.”

Netanyahu, in a social media video, admitted that the limited resumption of aid deliveries was a result of international pressure — an acknowledgment that sparked outrage from far-right members of his own cabinet, who oppose any aid being given to the territory under Hamas control.

Netanyahu Defiant Amid International Pressure

Despite intensifying criticism, Netanyahu doubled down on his military strategy, vowing that Israel would “take control of all the territory of the Strip.” In a Telegram video posted on Monday, he defended the ongoing ground offensive, claiming that the fighting was “intense” but that Israeli forces were “making progress.”

His response to the allied nations’ warnings was confrontational. He accused leaders in London, Ottawa, and Paris of rewarding what he called “a genocidal attack” on Israel during Hamas’s October 7 assault, and he warned that their calls for restraint only emboldened further violence.

“The leaders in London, Ottawa, and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel… while inviting more such atrocities,” Netanyahu said.

He urged European leaders to adopt former U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for resolving the conflict, which heavily favoured Israeli sovereignty and dismissed Palestinian demands for statehood.

Global Calls for Ceasefire and Two-State Solution

The UK, France, and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to a ceasefire and a two-state solution, which would see an independent Palestinian state coexisting alongside Israel. They also expressed firm opposition to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, labelling such activities as “illegal under international law.”

In a parallel move, a separate letter signed by Germany, Italy, Japan, and 18 other nations called on Israel to fully reopen humanitarian corridors and allow UN agencies and NGOs to deliver aid to Gaza. The letter underscored the increasing international frustration with Israel’s handling of the crisis.

Mounting Civilian Toll in Gaza

As international pressure mounts, airstrikes and ground operations continue across Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, hundreds of people were killed over the weekend. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties, but humanitarian organisations on the ground report that many of the victims are women and children.

Despite this, Netanyahu’s government insists the military campaign is necessary to eliminate Hamas, which it holds responsible for the October 7 attacks and ongoing rocket fire into Israeli territory. But critics argue that the scale of the offensive is disproportionate and is exacting an unacceptable humanitarian cost.

Growing Divide Among Allies

The statements by Britain, France, and Canada signal an important shift. While these nations have historically supported Israel’s right to self-defence, their current tone reflects a growing discomfort with the humanitarian consequences of Netanyahu’s strategy.

This diplomatic rupture could have long-term implications, not just for the conduct of the war, but for Israel’s international standing and its relationships with key partners.

With the situation in Gaza deteriorating and diplomatic patience thinning, the question now is whether Netanyahu will heed the warnings of his allies or continue to pursue what he has described as a campaign for "total victory."