Netanyahu accuses France, Britain, and Canada of supporting Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply accused the leaders of France, Britain, and Canada of encouraging the Palestinian militant group Hamas by threatening "concrete action" against Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza.

Netanyahu said these Western countries’ demands to halt Israel’s operations and ease the humanitarian blockade are effectively supporting Hamas’s continued control and hostility toward Israel.

Netanyahu’s remarks come as part of Israel’s effort to counter growing international criticism over the devastating conflict in Gaza.

The Israeli government faces pressure from multiple countries and organizations demanding an end to its offensive, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and left much of Gaza in ruins.

Despite this, Netanyahu insisted that Israel’s actions are necessary for its defense following a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

"You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history," Netanyahu said, addressing the leaders of the three nations.

He condemned what he described as their failure to recognize the true nature of Hamas, insisting that the group does not seek a Palestinian state but aims to destroy Israel.

Netanyahu linked the killing of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington by a man who shouted "Free Palestine" to Hamas’s violent campaign, pointing out that the same slogan was heard during the Hamas attack on Israel.

"They don't want a Palestinian state. They want to destroy the Jewish state," he said on social media.

The Israeli leader argued that any move by France, Britain, or Canada to recognize a Palestinian state would reward "these murderers with the ultimate prize."

He accused the three governments of "emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever" by demanding an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive and lifting the aid blockade on Gaza.

Hamas welcomed the Western leaders’ statement, which called for an end to the military campaign and the easing of humanitarian restrictions that Israel had imposed since March.

Netanyahu responded by saying the demand to lift the blockade without conditions benefits Hamas politically and militarily, giving the group hope to establish a “second Palestinian state” from which it would again threaten Israel.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot rejected Netanyahu’s accusations, stressing that France remains committed to Israel’s security but supports a two-state solution.

“It is absurd and slanderous to accuse supporters of a two-state solution of encouraging antisemitism or Hamas,” Barrot said.

French government spokesperson Sophie Primas urged calm and called for efforts to find lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Britain’s armed forces minister Luke Pollard also responded, affirming support for Israel’s right to self-defense while emphasizing that such actions must comply with international humanitarian law.

He stressed the importance of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches Gaza amid the conflict.

Israel’s military offensive was launched in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas that killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages.

Since then, the conflict has escalated, resulting in over 53,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza.