[Source/Observer Network, Wang Yi] According to comprehensive reports from the British Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and others, leaders of the UK, France, and Canada issued a joint statement on May 19, condemning Israel's "shocking actions" in the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate halt to military operations in the area and allowing humanitarian aid to enter. Otherwise, they will take joint actions including sanctions.

AFP reported that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu retaliated against this statement, calling it a "huge reward" for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement.

The Joint Statement by Leaders of the UK, France, and Canada on the Situation in Gaza and the West Bank stated that it is unacceptable for the Israeli government to refuse necessary humanitarian assistance to civilians, which may violate international humanitarian law. "We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank."

"We will not stand idly by regarding these despicable actions of Netanyahu's government. If Israel does not stop its new military offensive and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will respond with further specific actions," the leaders of the UK, France, and Canada did not specify in the joint statement what actions they would consider taking but indicated that the actions "include targeted sanctions."

In the statement, the three leaders expressed their intention to continue cooperating with the Palestinian Authority, regional partners, Israel, and the United States to reach consensus on future arrangements for the Gaza Strip based on the "Arab solution."

"We are committed to recognizing Palestine as a state, contributing to the implementation of the two-state solution, and are prepared to cooperate with other countries for this purpose." The statement read.

The Joint Statement by Leaders of the UK, France, and Canada on the Situation in Gaza and the West Bank UK Government Website

Reuters reported that Hamas welcomed this, praising this stance as an important step towards restoring an international order based on international law.

According to AFP, Netanyahu's office responded angrily to the joint statement afterward. He claimed that before "Hamas terrorists" were completely destroyed, asking Israel to end a "defense war vital to our survival" and demanding the establishment of a Palestinian state, the leaders of London, Ottawa, and Paris were giving a "huge reward" for the genocide attack on Israel on October 7 and inviting more such atrocities.

Netanyahu said, "All European leaders" should support Israel like former U.S. President Trump. "If the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its weapons, its cruel leaders are exiled, and Gaza is demilitarized, the war can end tomorrow." Otherwise, "Israel will continue to defend itself by legitimate means until achieving total victory."

Some media speculated that the joint statement by the leaders of the UK, France, and Canada was in response to Israel's resumed intensive military strikes and blockade of the Gaza Strip since March this year.

After the first phase of the ceasefire implemented by Israel and Hamas in January, Israel once limitedly opened channels for aid materials to enter the Gaza Strip. However, starting from March 2, Israel suspended allowing any materials into the Gaza Strip, causing the region to again face a severe shortage of aid materials. Subsequently, Israel resumed large-scale airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip under the pretext that Hamas refused to accept the follow-up ceasefire proposal proposed by the U.S. government and the release of detained Israelis, with the scope of operations continuously expanding.

Multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, condemned Israel's actions. A report released by the UN World Food Programme on May 12 estimated that a famine could occur in the Gaza Strip between May and September due to this.

The UK Guardian reported that due to the impending famine, under pressure from the international community, Netanyahu announced on the evening of May 18 that Israel "will immediately allow the restoration" of humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip to prevent a "famine crisis."

On May 19, local time, Palestinians carrying luggage fled their homes. Reuters

The report cited the United Nations as saying that about 24 hours later, nine trucks carrying aid supplies were approved to enter, but this was less than 2% of the daily aid supply transported before the war. This aid transport volume will not bring any substantial changes to the current crisis affecting 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip.

The foreign ministers of 22 countries including the UK, France, Canada, Germany signed another joint statement on May 19, urging Israel to fully restore aid to the Gaza Strip immediately, stating that the war-ravaged people in the region "face famine" and "must receive the urgent assistance they need."

Netanyahu also claimed on the 18th that Israel would "take over the entire Gaza Strip," "and this is what we will do."

CBC analysis pointed out that as the fighting intensified, the hope for a ceasefire seemed increasingly remote. The White House said that Trump would continue to engage with both sides. But sources from both sides said that the new round of indirect ceasefire negotiations held in Qatar between Israel and Hamas made no progress.

Netanyahu claimed that the negotiations involved a new ceasefire agreement and the release of all detainees, as well as proposals to expel Hamas armed personnel and demilitarize the Gaza Strip, all of which had previously been rejected by Hamas.

A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, blamed the lack of progress in the negotiations on Israel and said that escalating the offensive was equivalent to sentencing the remaining hostages to "death."

The Gaza Health Department said on the 19th that since Israel resumed military operations on March 18, at least 3,340 people have died in the region, bringing the total death toll to nearly 53,500.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7506348437059748364/

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