France, UK, and Canada Warn Israel: Stop Gaza Assault or Face Concrete Measures
Macron, Starmer, and Carney signal potential sanctions over Israel’s actions in Gaza, pledging recognition of a Palestinian state and calling for immediate humanitarian access.
Watan-French President Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Ministers of the UK and Canada, Keir Starmer and Mark Carney, issued a strong warning Monday that they will not stand “idle” in the face of what they described as the “disgraceful actions” of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli government in Gaza. They hinted at “concrete measures” if Israel does not halt its military offensive and allow humanitarian aid to enter the besieged territory.
In a joint statement, the three leaders declared:“We are determined to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution and are ready to work with others to achieve this goal.”
They referred to the upcoming UN conference in June, which aims to build international consensus on this objective.
“Egregious” Gaza Actions Prompt Threats of Sanctions from UK, France, Canada
The leaders warned that their countries will take action if Israel continues its military operations in Gaza and maintains its restrictions on aid deliveries.
According to a joint statement published by the UK government,
“The Israeli government’s prevention of basic humanitarian aid from reaching civilians is unacceptable and violates international humanitarian law.”
Sky’s @BethRigby questions Sir Keir Starmer, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa on the UK-EU deal, and if they think what is happening in Gaza is genocide.
Listen to their responses ⬇️
Live updates: https://t.co/oVWAyuiDcw
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— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 19, 2025
They also stated:“We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank… and will not hesitate to take further action, including imposing targeted sanctions.”
This strong message comes after earlier statements on Monday from European Union leaders and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who harshly criticized the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
EU Leaders Urge Ceasefire, Reaffirm Commitment to Two-State Solution
European Council President António Costa urged Israel to halt its military operations and called on Hamas to immediately release all remaining hostages. He stressed that only a two-state solution can bring lasting peace to the region.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Costa’s remarks, reaffirming the EU’s position:
“We firmly believe that the only solution is the two-state solution.” She also emphasized that humanitarian aid must never be politicized.
Starmer added that the situation in Gaza is “truly dire, unacceptable, and unsustainable,” and confirmed that discussions are underway at the heads-of-state level to find a resolution.
These statements came in response to a press question in London on whether the situation in Gaza could be classified as genocide.
Their remarks followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that his government aims for full control over the coastal strip, a move widely condemned by the international community.
