The leaders of France, Britain, and Canada have come under heavy fire from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for allegedly “emboldening” Hamas. His comments followed the three nations’ threats of “concrete action” if Israel did not stop its relaunched offensive in Gaza and relax restrictions on humanitarian aid.
PM Netanyahu warned that their position jeopardizes Israel’s security, encourages terrorism, and fortifies Hamas. In the face of growing international censure of the war in Gaza, his remarks have further widened the divide between Israel and important Western allies.
Western Leaders Under Fire
PM Netanyahu accused Canadian PM Mark Carney, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British PM Keir Starmer of supporting Hamas. He asserted that their stance inspires the militant group to keep fighting and gives it hope.
PM Netanyahu said, “You are on the wrong side of history and humanity.” Similar statements were made earlier by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who demonstrated a united Israeli front in the face of mounting international pressure.
Gaza Images Fuel Global Protests
Global protests have gotten more intense as images of the devastation and starvation in Gaza spread around the world. The Israeli government has struggled to change the world’s perception.
Yaki Dayan, a former Israeli diplomat, observed that many foreigners perceive the war as disproportionate, whereas Israel sees it as defensive. According to him, closing this perception gap “is sometimes an impossible mission.”
Fears Over Palestinian Statehood Recognition
The growing calls in Europe for the recognition of a Palestinian state continue to worry Israel. France might soon recognize, like Spain and Ireland did. PM Netanyahu presented this as risky, claiming that it would “reward murderers.”
He brought up the murder of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington by a man who allegedly yelled “Free Palestine.” He emphasized that Hamas’s objective is still to destroy Israel and connected the attack to chants from the October 7 attack.
Misleading Hamas Gratitude Claims
According to Netanyahu, Hamas expressed gratitude to the three Western leaders for their support. He said they were calling for sanctions against Israel rather than Hamas. He declared, “They want Hamas to stay in power.”
In actuality, the leaders demanded that Israel stop its most recent military offensive and restore aid to Gaza.
Western Replies Reaffirm Support
Jean-Noel Barrot, the French foreign minister, denied PM Netanyahu’s accusations. He denounced antisemitism and reiterated France’s backing for Israel. Israel’s right to self-defense was also upheld by British Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard. He did stress, though, that it must adhere to international humanitarian law and guarantee that aid reaches Gaza.
Growing dissatisfaction with the protracted conflict is reflected in Israel’s increasing isolation on the international scene. In the face of international calls for restraint and peace, Netanyahu’s remarks represent a daring increase in rhetoric.