The Voice News: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada of encouraging Hamas. His comments came after these countries warned that they might take “tough measures” if Israel does not pause its ongoing military operations in Gaza, according to Reuters.
Reiterating Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s earlier remarks, Netanyahu stated, “You are standing against humanity. You are on the wrong side of history.”
As images of destruction and famine in Gaza spread globally, public opinion is increasingly turning against Israel, adding pressure on Tel Aviv. Former Israeli diplomat Yaki Dayan noted that many in the world—especially left-leaning factions in the U.S. and parts of Europe—do not view Israel’s actions as self-defense, a perception gap that he says is nearly impossible to bridge.
Israeli officials are particularly concerned about countries like Spain and Ireland moving toward recognizing the State of Palestine. They fear that if France and other nations follow, the situation could become even more complex.
Netanyahu stated that the creation of a Palestinian state poses a threat to Israel’s existence. He referenced a deadly attack at Israel’s embassy in Washington where the assailant reportedly shouted “Free Palestine”—a slogan also heard during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said Hamas does not want a Palestinian state but rather the destruction of the Jewish state. “I fail to understand why leaders of France, the UK, and Canada don’t see that.”
According to Netanyahu, the actions of Western nations amount to giving Hamas “the ultimate prize.” Instead of promoting peace, he said, statements from French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Canada’s Mark Carney are only further inciting Hamas.
These three leaders issued a joint statement on Monday opposing a new Israeli offensive in Gaza and urging that humanitarian aid not be obstructed. However, they did not directly call for an end to the war.
Netanyahu claimed their warnings seemed more like sanctions against Israel rather than Hamas, thereby paving the way for Hamas to stay in power and plan future attacks.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot responded by affirming that France considers Hamas a terrorist organization and remains committed to Israel’s security. He stressed that supporting a two-state solution does not mean encouraging Hamas or promoting antisemitism. He called Netanyahu’s allegations baseless.
British Defence Minister Luke Pollard told Times Radio, “We stand with Israel in the fight against terrorism. But that fight must stay within the bounds of international humanitarian law. At the same time, we want aid to reach Gaza.”
Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The offensive has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths and increasing global outrage. Diplomatic pressure on Israel is intensifying amid widespread protests in Europe and the U.S.