OTTAWA – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Canada, the United Kingdom, and France of rewarding Hamas “a huge prize” with their threats of potential actions against Israel in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This statement came as a response to a joint announcement made on Monday by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron, in which they warned of “targeted sanctions” on Israel due to its continued military operations and what they termed the “wholly inadequate” food aid delivered to Gaza.
Hamas quickly welcomed the joint statement, calling it “a significant step in the right direction.” The organization, which Canada designates as a terrorist entity, called for further international action to halt what it described as “savage Zionist aggression” and to hold Israel accountable, labeling it a “rogue state.”
Criticism of the Canadian government arose from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who expressed disapproval of the stance taken by the government against Israel while Hamas holds Israeli citizens hostage. In a social media statement, Poilievre argued that when a terrorist group like Hamas praises actions taken by other nations, it signals a grave mistake for those nations. He asserted that the conflict could end immediately if Hamas released hostages and surrendered, affirming that Conservatives will always support Israel's right to exist and defend itself.
The U.K. was the first to act on the threats mentioned in the joint statement. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that the British government is suspending free trade negotiations with Israel and has implemented new sanctions targeting illegal settlements in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Canada and France have not yet followed suit with similar actions.
As the situation escalates, Israel continues its military offensives in Gaza, which have drawn considerable international condemnation. Recent airstrikes by the Israeli military reportedly killed at least 85 Palestinians, although Israeli officials stated they allowed additional aid trucks into Gaza. Over two million people reside in Gaza, which has been subjected to an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, leading to warnings of famine.
Just this week, Israel agreed to allow a limited amount of aid into the region under pressure. However, the United Nations reported that no aid had reached Palestinians just two days after new supplies began to arrive. In the context of the military offensive, Netanyahu declared intentions for Israel to “take control of all of Gaza,” and suggested encouraging “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians, proposals that have been vehemently rejected by Palestinian leaders.
In a late-night social media post, Netanyahu criticized the three leaders, claiming they are offering a “huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7,” further suggesting their statements invite more atrocities. He framed the conflict as “a war of civilization over barbarism” and confirmed Israel’s commitment to defend itself until achieving “total victory.”
The joint statement from Carney, Macron, and Starmer acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense but condemned its military escalation as “wholly disproportionate.” They also expressed opposition to actions expanding settlements in the West Bank and indicated potential sanctions if Israel fails to cease these developments. Lammy remarked that the Israeli government holds the responsibility to intervene and stop “aggressive actions” from extremist settlers, citing firsthand experiences witnessing the violence against Palestinian communities.
The U.K. has moved forward with sanctions against several individuals, illegal settler outposts, and organizations supporting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Thomas Juneau, an international affairs professor at the University of Ottawa, characterized the joint letter as “somewhat significant,” reflecting increasing impatience within the international community towards Israel's prolonged military actions in Gaza. However, he noted that this statement does not significantly depart from traditional positions held by the three countries regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Juneau speculated that the U.K.’s suspension of trade negotiations with Israel serves more as a symbolic gesture, as goods continue to be exchanged between the two nations. Ultimately, he stressed that the impact of any actions or statements made by these countries on Israel would likely be minimal, asserting that the United States remains the only international actor capable of effecting change in Israeli policies.
Furthermore, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs director general Eden Bar Tal reported that the country accepted a proposed ceasefire and hostage release from U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, claiming that Hamas rejected the suggestion.
