The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada threatened action against Israel if it does not stop a renewed military offensive in Gaza and lift aid restrictions, piling further pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The intervention comes after the Israeli military announced the start of a new operation on Friday, with Netanyahu saying earlier on Monday Israel would take control of the whole of Gaza. International experts have already warned of a looming famine.
"The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law," a joint statement released by the UK government said.
"We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank ... We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.
"We have always supported Israel's right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate," the three Western leaders said in the joint statement, adding they will not stand by while Netanyahu's government pursues "these egregious actions".
They also stated their support for the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and said they were committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution.
The statement coincided with a joint demand by 22 countries — including the UK, France and Canada — for Israel to immediately "allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza", noting that the territory's population "faces starvation".
Israel has kept Gaza in a total aid blockade since 2 March, but announced on Monday it would allow a limited number of supply trucks.
Netanyahu said the limited aid access was because "images of mass starvation" in Gaza could hurt the legitimacy of his country's war.
Israel's aid access insufficient, France says
France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Israel's easing of humanitarian aid access is insufficient, France's, and warned that the new offensive on Gaza had to stop or there would be consequences.
"It (the situation) is unsustainable because the Israeli government's blind violence, the blocking of humanitarian aid have turned Gaza into a place for dying, not to say a cemetery," Barrot told France Inter radio on Tuesday.
Five UN trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including food for babies, were allowed into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom Crossing on Monday.
"This is completely insufficient," Barrot said. "All this must stop. We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Gazans. This aid must be immediate, massive and without any hindrance."
On Tuesday, spokesperson Jens Laerke said the United Nations had received permission from Israel for more emergency aid trucks to enter Gaza, though the first supplies remained under Israeli control.
"We have requested and received approval for more trucks to enter today, many more than were approved yesterday," Laerke told a Geneva press briefing. When asked to specify how many, he said: "Around 100."
After weeks of blockade, Israel cleared nine trucks of goods on Monday to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. However, Laerke said just five of those had so far entered Gaza and were still currently "under Israeli control" and subject to the last stage of checks.
"The next step is to collect them, and then they will be distributed through the existing system," said Laerke, adding that those trucks contained baby food and nutritional products for children.
"We know for a fact that there are babies in urgent life-saving need of these supplements. And if they do not get those, they will be in mortal danger," he said in response to a question about whether babies' lives were at risk.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher previously called the aid deliveries approved so far "a drop in the ocean".
Netanyahu hits back, says statement a 'huge prize' for Hamas
Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a furious response in a statement released by his office.
"By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities," he said, referring to the Hamas attacks in 2023 that escalated the war.
Netanyahu said "all European leaders" should follow US President Donald Trump's example in supporting Israel.
"The war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled and Gaza is demilitarised. No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won't.
"This is a war of civilisation over barbarism. Israel will continue to defend itself by just means until total victory is achieved."
