The UK, France, and Canada have urged Israel to halt its "egregious" military ac

The UK, France, and Canada have called for Israel to end its "egregious" military offensive in Gaza, with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, joining French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in condemning the ongoing operations and demanding the immediate allowance of humanitarian aid into the region.

The leaders described the current situation as "wholly inadequate" and "intolerable," as the blockade of food, fuel, and medicine has been ongoing since 2 March. They emphasized that the denial of essential humanitarian assistance could breach International Humanitarian Law and that any permanent forced displacement of the civilian population would be illegal. They also urged Hamas to release the remaining hostages from the attack on southern Israel in October 2023.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the three leaders of offering a "huge prize" to Hamas and claimed their stance would only encourage more terrorism. He had previously stated that a "basic amount of food" would be allowed into Gaza but reiterated the government's goal to "take control of all of Gaza."

The UN's humanitarian relief chief, Tom Fletcher, has criticized the limited aid allowed into Gaza, saying it is insufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population. The statement from the three Western leaders reaffirmed support for Israel's right to self-defense against terrorism but emphasized that the current escalation is disproportionate. They also reiterated their support for a two-state solution, where an independent Palestinian state would coexist with Israel, as a means to end the conflict.

The situation in Gaza remains tense and dire, with more than 53,000 Palestinians reportedly killed during the Israeli military campaign and a significant portion of the population in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. The international community continues to urge for a cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomatic efforts to achieve a sustainable peace.

BBC