Europe and Canada Escalate Pressure on Israel: France Moves to Recognize Palestine, UK Freezes Trade Negotiations

Watan-Israeli massacres in Gaza have continued at an unrelenting pace, with violent attacks by occupation forces killing dozens of civilians and wiping out entire families. The military has resumed using explosive robots to destroy buildings and kill Palestinians remotely, even targeting displaced civilians in shelters. Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that no humanitarian aid has reached Gazans two days after new supplies were permitted to enter.

According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, Israel’s starvation policy—by closing crossings and blocking aid for over 80 days—has led to the death of 326 Palestinians from malnutrition and lack of medicine. Additionally, over 300 miscarriages have been reported among pregnant women amid what is widely seen as an ongoing genocide.

Northern Gaza remains under heavy bombardment. The Israeli military has threatened forced displacement of its residents and targeted makeshift shelters housing displaced civilians.

Israel’s “Walla” news site reported that military chief orders have instructed the southern command to intensify air and ground strikes. A senior military source stated:“Firepower will escalate in the coming days, and operations not seen before in Gaza will be launched.”

The aim, according to southern command sources, is to apply extreme pressure on Hamas to improve Israel’s position in ongoing negotiations.

In Israel, opposition politician Yair Golan, leader of the “Democrats” party, drew fierce backlash on Tuesday after saying that Netanyahu’s ministers were “celebrating the death and starvation of Palestinian children.”

Speaking to Israeli public radio, Golan said:“A sane country does not wage war on civilians, does not kill children for sport, and does not pursue a policy of forced population displacement.”

On the international front, the UK suspended free trade negotiations with Israel and imposed new sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank in protest of Israeli actions in Gaza.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in Parliament Tuesday, after a joint statement with French President Emmanuel

Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney:“We are appalled by Israel’s escalation. We renew our call for a ceasefire as the only path to hostage release, and we demand unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza.”

He added:“We must coordinate our response—this war has gone on far too long.”

European Leaders Push for Palestinian Statehood, Sanctions, and Unhindered Aid to Gaza

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also summoned Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely following the intensification of Israel’s bombardment.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded dismissively, saying:“The British Mandate ended 77 years ago. External pressure will not deter Tel Aviv from its path.”

In France, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot stated in a radio interview:“We are determined to recognize the State of Palestine. The situation is unbearable… We cannot leave the children of Gaza a legacy of violence and hatred. It must end.”

He also called on Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.

Palestinian statehood recognition is expected during a joint France-Saudi Arabia international conference scheduled between June 17–20, aiming to revive the two-state solution.

In Sweden, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said Tuesday that Stockholm will push within the EU to impose sanctions on specific Israeli ministers over their treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. She confirmed that the targeted officials will be discussed at the EU level.

Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, also condemned the situation in Gaza on Tuesday, calling it “intolerable and worsening.”

Speaking at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, he said:“I made it clear during my visit to Israel and Palestine: the situation has not improved, it has only worsened.”

He noted that more than 20 countries had signed a joint statement clearly demanding an urgent improvement in Gaza’s humanitarian situation.

Wadephul emphasized:“Our position is clear—we support a two-state solution, and there must be no direct or indirect forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.”