May 23, 2025 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing them of "emboldening Hamas" following their calls for an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid.
Earlier this week, the leaders of the UK, France, and Canada issued a joint statement condemning what they described as “egregious” actions by the Israeli government in Gaza. They warned that failure to shift course could prompt “concrete actions” from allied nations.
In a video message posted to social media platform X on Thursday evening, Netanyahu denounced the joint condemnation and defended his government’s ongoing campaign, stating that Hamas seeks “to destroy the Jewish state” and “annihilate the Jewish people.”
“I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, and others,” Netanyahu said. Addressing the three leaders directly, he added: “I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney, and Prime Minister Starmer — when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, and kidnappers thank you, you’re on the wrong side of justice.”
The Israeli leader insisted that recent Western criticisms were not contributing to peace but were instead “emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever.”
His remarks came amid heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday — an attack that has reverberated internationally. Israeli diplomatic missions have since increased security measures.
Responding to the attack, Prime Minister Starmer condemned the violence, describing it as “antisemitic.” He added, “My thoughts are with their colleagues, family, and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.”
The UK government has also extended its “full support to the Israeli embassy in London,” according to Downing Street.
The exchange marks a significant deterioration in UK-Israel relations, which have reached their lowest point in decades. Tensions escalated further after British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the suspension of ongoing negotiations for a new UK-Israel free trade agreement. Lammy cited inflammatory statements by Israeli cabinet ministers — including calls to “purify Gaza” through the expulsion of Palestinians — as “repellent, monstrous, and extremist.”
In tandem with diplomatic rebukes, the UK has also imposed sanctions on several Israeli settlers accused of violence and rights violations in the West Bank.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, international divisions continue to widen, casting uncertainty over prospects for a negotiated resolution.
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