Netanyahu rejects sanctions threat from France, UK, and Canada over Gaza war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fiercely rejected a joint statement from the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, which warned of possible sanctions against Israel over its ongoing military campaign in Gaza, accusing them of rewarding Hamas and undermining Israel’s right to self-defence.

In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu said the call to end what he described as a “defensive war for our survival” amounted to offering “a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7,” as per Caliber.Az. 

He reiterated that the war began when Hamas-led militants crossed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting over 250.

“Israel accepts President Trump's vision and urges all European leaders to do the same,” he added, referring to the 2020 U.S. proposal for Middle East peace. Netanyahu said the war could end immediately if Hamas surrendered, disarmed, released the hostages, and left Gaza’s leadership.

Calling the conflict “a war of civilization over barbarism,” Netanyahu vowed that Israel would continue its military operations “by just means until total victory is achieved.”

Notably, on May 19, the leaders of France, Canada, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and warning Israel of potential consequences if its military actions continued unabated. The statement criticized Israel's intensified military operations and the blockade on humanitarian aid, labeling the conditions in Gaza as "intolerable."

The leaders condemned the recent Israeli military offensive, which included airstrikes and a ground invasion, resulting in significant civilian casualties. They also highlighted the insufficiency of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza and called for unfettered access to essential supplies. The joint statement emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and a return to negotiations aimed at a two-state solution. The leaders warned that failure to address these concerns could lead to unspecified "concrete" actions against Israel, including potential sanctions.

By Khagan Isayev