Israel must cease its military offensive on Gaza and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid or face “concrete actions,” the leaders of the U.K., France and Canada have said.
The joint statement by Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney also demanded Hamas release hostages it took in the attack on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel that preceded the war in Gaza.
Speaking to Newsweek from Gaza on Tuesday, an aid worker for the Mercy Corps humanitarian NGO said the statement offered hope at a time when the situation on the ground is getting worse “by the hour.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the NATO leaders are appeasing Hamas and are inviting more attacks akin to October 7.
The U.N. warned Tuesday that Israel’s continued blockade of Gaza could cause the deaths of 14,000 babies in the next 48 hours.
Newsweek has contacted the Israeli government for comment.