Britain, France and Canada condemn Israel’s plans for ground operations in Gaza

In a dramatic shift in international tone, some of Israel’s closest Western allies have issued their strongest rebuke yet over its conduct in the ongoing war in Gaza. Britain, France, and Canada released a joint statement this week condemning Israel’s latest military escalation and its sustained blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the United Nations warns famine is imminent.

The statement criticized what it called Israel’s “wholly disproportionate” response, marking a departure from the unwavering support these nations initially voiced following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and around 250 taken hostage. While reaffirming Israel’s right to defend itself, the three countries called the recent escalation and the restriction of aid “egregious actions” that must end. They warned that further diplomatic and economic measures would be taken if Israel does not change course.

In a concrete move, Britain announced it was suspending ongoing talks with Israel to expand a bilateral free-trade agreement. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Parliament that Israel’s actions risk driving Gazans into increasingly confined zones while depriving them of essential aid. The blockade, which has persisted for over two months, has led aid agencies to halt operations due to depleted resources. Doctors report increasing malnutrition among children, and international agencies are sounding alarms over the deteriorating conditions.

Despite briefly allowing five trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Monday, Israel’s overall restrictions remain firmly in place. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded angrily to the criticism, accusing Britain, France, and Canada of rewarding Hamas and undermining the fight against terrorism. He asserted that Israel’s campaign was a battle of “civilization over barbarism” and vowed to continue until “total victory” is achieved.

The United States, while avoiding open criticism of Israel, has shown signs of distancing itself from Netanyahu. President Donald Trump recently negotiated a deal with Hamas to secure the release of the last living American hostage without involving the Israeli government, and skipped visiting Israel during his Middle East tour.

Meanwhile, European Union officials are weighing whether Israel’s actions constitute a breach of its human rights obligations under its association agreement with the bloc. France’s foreign minister warned that the agreement could be suspended unless the offensive ceases, potentially aligning Israel with nations like Syria and Zimbabwe.

As the humanitarian toll in Gaza mounts, international patience with Israel’s military strategy is wearing thin.