The UK, France and Canada threaten Israel

[Whatsinanamehey]

"The leaders of Britain, France, and Canada on Monday threatened action against Israel if it does not stop a renewed military offensive in Gaza and lift aid restrictions"

"We have always supported Israel's right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate," the three Western leaders said in the joint statement, adding that they will not stand by while Netanyahu's government pursues "these egregious actions."

My personal opinion is once again it is too little, too late. However I'm interested to hear opinions on what exactly this threatening action would consist of?

What has caused these governments to issue such a statement now and not before? The blockade of aid has been ongoing for more than two months. Why didn't they say take further action earlier?

Lastly, will this statement have any effect on the Netanyahu extremist government? Or will they brush it off as they usually do? I'm not sure as these are three powerful allies who have so far been quite wishy washy with their condemnation.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/uk-france-canada-threaten-israel-against-gaza-offensive-2025-05-19/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-the-united-kingdom-france-and-canada-on-the-situation-in-gaza-and-the-west-bank

from the UK gov

The three countries also condemned the extremist rhetoric from Israeli ministers.

This is chilling

Netanyahu has reacted angrily to this and has said his country will carry on until 'total victory'.

The Israeli government is evil personified. They don’t care how many children starve.

That photo! It sickens me how smug they always look. 🤢 I can't even look at them anymore, l particularly Netanyahu. I can't watch videos of him talking with the sound on, either. He grosses me out so much now.

I hope a red line has been reached for them and this isn't just talk.

I imagine there's been a lot of behind the scenes diplomacy which has now failed. It's horrifying.

About time.

Me too. The time for talk was over a long time ago. 'We are dismantling Gaza, leaving it in ruins with unprecedented destruction, and the world still hasn’t stopped us.' Right there, from their own mouths boasting about the complete destruction of Gaza.

I've always said silence is complicity, Israel have taken that silence as permission. I hope every person and government who has spent these past 18+ months defending these absolute bastards tales a good long look at what these men are saying. This is what you've been pretending not to see. You can't pretend you didn't know, the UN, the ICJ, Amnesty, Save the children, multiple Drs, experts in human rights have all been telling you what Israel are doing and you have pretended not to see. Can you see it now? Conquer, cleanse and stay. Clear as day.

Imagine how many children would be alive today, how many children would have their mum and dad if people had just admitted what they could see? Better late than never but stop talking and start acting before more children die because people chose to turn their heads and give Israel permission to be the biggest child killers on the planet right now.

Too little too late, after their complicity for the last 18/19 months. The UK government is currently being sued for supplying F35 parts to Israel
https://gcnchambers.co.uk/hearing-begins-on-al-haqs-challenge-of-uk-government-sale-of-f-35-fighter-jet-components-to-israel/

I am a cynic and believe that it's just for "optics", like JD Vance cancelling his trip to Israel yesterday due to not wanting to appear to be endorsing the new IDF incursion mass massacre of civilians.

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/19/vance-skip-israel-visit-gaza-operation

Also the images of starving children coming out of Gaza are receiving a lot of attention and generating a lot of anger from the public who are comparing it to historical crimes against humanity where civilians were similarly starved.

Basically it's getting a lot harder to whitewash the crimes being committed by the IDF or Israeli politicians positively gloating over what they're doing/are going to do.

So either they're jumping ship now and will blame it all on Netanyahu or backdoor diplomacy has failed and they're trying to save what ever little reputation Israel has left.

Agreed. Well said.

So either they're jumping ship now and will blame it all on Netanyahu or backdoor diplomacy has failed

It’s probably a bit of both. Macron called the block on aid despicable or something similar a few weeks ago and the official response was “Macron has once again chosen to side with a murderous Islamist terrorist organization and echo its despicable propaganda, accusing Israel of blood libels“

Which I thought was just nuts really. So I can’t imagine how any private interactions have gone.

I’m fascinated by the amount of damage that Netanyahu and his government are doing to Israel’s international relations. Can they ever come back from this?

It’s not just these countries.
If European countries are concerned about Israel breaking international by limiting aid and ethnic cleansing of Gaza, the only immediate impactful change would be to terminate / suspend the EU Israel association agreement? Would Netanyahu’s government survive this? It would also give a clear signal to the next Israeli government about expected behaviour towards Palestinians.

I hope the EU can get this done and show what effective regard to international law can achieve.

www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/2025/05/20/netherlands-to-rally-eu-support-to-increase-pressure-on-israel-amid-divisions-across-europe/

My guess is also all diplomatic channels have failed behind the scenes. But I still think there's more to it that we might find out soon. Maybe another law suit coming towards our government for their complicity.

I don't think anyone will forget how they allowed the mass massacres for so long Now that the genocide is no longer undeniable, they swoop in at the last minute. This statement could and further action should have been taken a long time ago.

@Whatsinanamehey
I would be a shame if the only thing driving Starmer and others is further legal action against them.
But I think the time is now ripe for some more unity of action- yes it’s late and history won’t look back kindly at the European / U.S. inaction, but sometimes you need the cards to fall in place.
Hopefully suspension of the trade and cultural agreements with Israel will only require a majority of EU countries’ votes. Can’t see the decision being unanimous.

Wonder what countries can do individually that would be effective?

Far too late of course! Are they just waking up to the Genocide?? Netanyahu will dig his heels in though, there will need to be serious action against Israel before that madman listens.

Bloody about time.

The Israeli opposition has been criticised for saying the truth. That Israel is becoming a pariah state and the government are killing children in Gaza as a hobby.

It Is far too little far too late. What happens if Israel continues and what is the consequence? Another slightly cross statement? All the while people are starving or being bombed to death.

The five aid lorries that crossed into Gaza are still just stationary on the other side. None of the aid has been distributed yet and Tom Fletcher from the UN has warned world leaders that if aid doesn't reach the babies who need it, thousands will die.

The UN assessment and urgency is clear. The government's who said all this time 'we stand with Israel' must be panicking at what is going to unfold if Netanyahu really doesn't allow sufficient aid in ASAP.

I think this will be the real test as Netanyahu has reacted quite angrily and defiantly towards this statement.

The horror is now beyond words for any decent person. These are unmistakable war crimes, and the world must hold those responsible to account. The situation is so dire, it makes even Russia’s conduct in war seem restrained by comparison. Hospitals have collapsed, and mass starvation has begun.

No they won't panic. Because Palestinians have been sufficiently dehumanised.

I agree, but possible panic because so far they have been tacit with the catastrophe and implicit in this genocide.

Good Israelis are protesting — no decent person wants to be associated with this monstrosity.