Western countries threaten Israel with sanctions over Gaza
The United Kingdom, Canada, and France condemn Israel’s refusal of humanitarian aid and signal potential sanctions.

Three Western countries — the United Kingdom, Canada, and France — have officially acknowledged the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israel for the first time amid the ongoing military escalation in the Gaza Strip. In a joint statement issued on May 16, the governments of these countries expressed concern over the scale of the military operation and the actions of the Israeli leadership toward the civilian population.
The statement affirms that while Israel has the right to self-defense, the current operation in Gaza exceeds acceptable boundaries. The Western allies of Tel Aviv particularly emphasized Israel’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid. In the view of London, Ottawa, and Paris, such actions may violate international humanitarian law.
The proposed sanctions are currently limited in scope. The focus is on the possibility of imposing personal restrictions on Israeli officials involved in decision-making. Broad economic measures, such as those applied to other countries during armed conflicts, are not being considered.
The statement also highlights support for U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire. Furthermore, the UK, France, and Canada expressed readiness to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution — a move described as a key element of future conflict resolution.
The Palestinian side, including the leadership of Hamas, welcomed the statement by the three countries, calling it an “important step” toward restoring international legal norms. In contrast, Israel reacted sharply. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Western nations of effectively supporting the October 7 attacks and declared that Israel would continue its military operation until total victory is achieved.
On May 16, the Israeli armed forces announced the start of a new phase of their offensive. Previously, the prime minister stated his intention to take control of the entire Gaza Strip. He did not specify what measures would be taken regarding the Palestinians remaining in the occupied territory.
Since March, Israel has restricted access to fuel, medicine, and food supplies into Gaza in an effort to pressure the local population and force evacuations. Despite statements regarding limited humanitarian access, UN representatives claim that the delivered volumes are insufficient to meet the needs of the civilian population.
International organizations continue to call for a ceasefire and for humanitarian missions to be given unhindered access to those affected. Meanwhile, political tensions between Israel and its traditional allies continue to grow.
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