Canada, UK, France Threaten ‘Concrete Actions’ Against Israel Over Gaza Offensive

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying the three countries were ‘offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel.’

Military vehicles stand near the border with Gaza, in Israel, May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The leaders of Canada, Britain, and France warned Israel that they will take “concrete actions” if it does not pause a military offensive in Gaza and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid into the territory.

The Israeli military began a series of air strikes against what it said were Hamas targets on Friday, ahead of the launch of “Gideon’s Chariots,” a new ground offensive which is aimed at gaining “operational control” of the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.

The joint statement, released by the British government on Monday, said, “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate.”

The statement also called on the Hamas terrorist group to immediately release the remaining Israeli hostages “they have so cruelly held since Oct. 7, 2023.”

The three countries said Israel suffered a “heinous attack” on Oct. 7, 2023, and they supported its right to defend itself against terrorism, adding, “But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.”

On settlement activity, they said, “We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians. We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.”

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “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.”

Hamas said the joint statement was “an important step” in the right direction.

International Pressure

Israel has come under strong international pressure to allow food and water into Gaza to alleviate hunger, especially among Palestinian children.

In a May 19 video statement posted on social media platform X, Netanyahu said he had decided to resume food aid, and said it was the result of pressure from some of Israel’s allies.

Without mentioning specific countries, Netanyahu said Israel’s “greatest friends in the world,” including a number of senators, had told him: “We cannot accept images of hunger, mass hunger. We cannot stand that. We will not be able to support you.”

Netanyahu said the aid that would be let in would be minimal. He said Israel would control all of Gaza and therefore prevent Hamas from stealing the aid, something the terrorist group has been accused of doing in the past.

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip are seen at the Kerem Shalom Crossing in southern Israel, on May 20, 2025. Maya Alleruzzo/AP

Yair Golan, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and chairman of the Democrats, a left-wing opposition party in Israel, told Reshet Bet radio on Tuesday, “A sane country doesn’t engage in fighting against civilians, doesn’t kill babies as a hobby and doesn’t set for itself the goals of expelling a population.”

Netanyahu criticized Golan’s remarks, which he called “wild incitement” against Israeli soldiers.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked if he supported Israel’s latest offensive. He told reporters: “I think a lot of good things are going to happen over the next month, and we’re going to see. We have to help also out the Palestinians. You know, a lot of people are starving on Gaza, so we have to look at both sides.”

Tom Fletcher, the U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the BBC on Tuesday that he feared 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if aid did not reach them.

He described the five trucks of aid that Israel allowed into Gaza on Monday as a “drop in the ocean.”

At the end of April, the U.N. World Food Programme stated that it had run out of food stocks in Gaza, and Trump said he had urged Netanyahu to allow food and medicine to be delivered.

The conflict in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists crossed the border into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back into the strip of territory they controlled.

Israel responded with air strikes and a ground offensive that the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza claims has killed at least 53,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children.

Israel has always maintained that, compared with many other armed conflicts, civilian casualties are low, despite Hamas using the human civilian population as human shields.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas representatives are taking place in Qatar.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.