On Thursday, May 22, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the leaders of the UK, France, and Canada, saying they were "on the wrong side of humanity." This came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with leaders from France and Canada, expressed deep concern over the violence in Gaza and called for a ceasefire. Earlier in the week, the UK stopped its free trade talks with Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador, and imposed more sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The UK’s foreign minister also described Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza as "monstrous." The Israeli army began a new military operation last week. According to health workers in Gaza, over 500 people have been killed in the past eight days by Israeli airstrikes. Since early March, Israel has blocked medical supplies, food, and fuel from entering Gaza. Experts have warned that this could lead to a famine, though a few aid trucks were allowed in on Monday. Meanwhile, PM Netanyahu also condemned the deadly shooting of two Israeli diplomats in Washington, DC, calling the incident "horrific" and a tragic loss for the nation.
