London: The leaders of Britain, France, and Canada have issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, calling for an immediate cessation of military attacks and the blockade. The statement criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies and warns that punitive measures, including sanctions, will be considered if the situation does not improve.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the joint statement emphasizes the leaders' strong opposition to the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza, highlighting the intolerable level of human suffering. They criticized Israel's recent announcement of allowing a basic quantity of food into Gaza as inadequate and unacceptable, pointing out the denial of essential humanitarian assistance as a potential breach of International Humanitarian Law.

The statement also addresses recent inflammatory remarks by members of the Israeli government, condemning language that suggests civilians in Gaza might be forced to relocate. Furthermore, the leaders expressed their opposition to any expansion of settlements in the West Bank, urging Israel to halt these activities that undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and threaten the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.

The leaders warned that they would not hesitate to implement further actions, including targeted sanctions, if necessary. Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed similar sentiments in a message on X, detailing his conversation with Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar and stressing the importance of humanitarian aid entry and an immediate ceasefire. He also reaffirmed Italy's readiness to provide additional humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In response, the Hamas movement welcomed the joint statement, supporting the opposition to the blockade and policies they described as genocidal. Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the World Health Organization, also expressed hope that essential medical aid would reach Gaza and emphasized the urgent need for support and a ceasefire for relief efforts to be effective.

In related developments, United Nations Secretary-General spokesperson St©phane Dujarric announced that five trucks carrying essential aid, including children's food, arrived in Gaza, describing it as a positive step while underscoring the need for more aid to address the humanitarian crisis.