Netanyahu is accused of slander after criticizing Macron, Carney and Starmer

The allegation of anti -Semitism of the Israeli leader is labeled as defamatory, as he is warned not to proceed with an endless war

Benjamin Netanyahu was accused of slander and pursuing an endless war after claiming that the leaders of France, Canada and the United Kingdom were fostering anti -Semitism and combining Hamas by demanding that he ended the two -month food blockage and helps Gaza.

In what became an extraordinary impasse with some of Israel’s closest allies, Netanyahu seemed deliberately increasing bets on Thursday night by accusing his western critics of abandoning Israel in a war for his own existence.

Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also tried to link the murder of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington to recent criticism made by European leaders.

He did not identify the countries, but UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described some of Israel’s recent actions this week as extremists and abominable.

Netanyahu’s language was seen by his own government as a justified response to a joint statement issued on Monday by French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and UK Prime Minister Keir Stmerer, asking Israel to interrupt his offensive in Gaza, who has reaped 3,000 lives since he was restarted in March.

In an X post on Thursday night, Israeli Prime Minister said Hamas wanted to “destroy the Jewish state” and “annihilate the Jewish people.”

“I could never understand how this simple truth escapes the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others,” said Netanyahu.

“I tell President Macron, Prime Minister Carnery and Prime Minister Stmerer: when mass killers, rapists, babies killers and kidnappers thank you, you are on the wrong side of justice.”

Netanyahu said the actions of these leaders were not “promoting peace,” but “encouraging Hamas to continue fighting forever.”

He went on, blaming a recent statement by UN Humanitarian Chief, Tom Fletcher, that thousands of babies would soon die in Gaza if Israel did not immediately release help to the Washington attack. “A few days ago, a high UN employee said 14,000 Palestinian babies would die in 48 hours. You see, many international institutions are accomplices in the spread of this lie,” he said.

“The press repeats. The crowd believed. And a young couple is brutally shot in Washington.”

UN authorities had to portray Fletcher’s allegation of deaths in 48 hours, saying that he was referring to a UN technical report on food insecurity classification that said 14,100 severe cases of acute malnutrition could occur among children from six to 59 months between April 2025 and March 2026. The deadline of the report is one year and not two days, as mentioned by Fletcher.

In France, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described Netanyahu’s anti-Semitism allegations as defamatory. “Accusing to encourage anti -Semitism or [apoiar] Hamas who defends the solution of two states is absurd and slanderous, ”Barrot said in a statement published in X.

Barrot also said that France supports Hamas to be “unarmed and permanently excluded from the political future of Gaza.”

Britain’s Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said: “I totally condemn the murders of Israeli diplomats in the United States, just as the prime minister publicly did.

“But we are also absolutely certain that the best way to bring peace to the Middle East is with an immediate ceasefire being restored in Gaza, with Hamas releasing hostages without further delay, and with large amounts of help reaching the Palestinian people in Gaza-food, water and medical supplies being delivered-without delay.”

Germany, the most loyal country to Israel for historical reasons, said the amount of help that entered Gaza was “too little and too late.” Germany has voted against the EU plan to review its trade agreement with Israel to verify that it is in accordance with EU obligations on human rights.

Ministers in Arab states recognize that Netanyahu is trying to reinforce his political position through attacks on the West, but warned that he was causing irreparable damage to Israel’s global reputation and pursuing a dysfunctional war without clear goals.

They said the US, on the other hand, embarrassed Netanyahu by showing that direct diplomacy could result in the release of hostages.

Israel states that blockade to help aims to isolate Hamas and permanent end to its domain in Gaza. Israel states that Hamas will not make its requirement that Israel will accept a permanent ceasefire.

The United Arab Emirates, the Arab country with the closest relations with Israel, were in direct negotiations with Israel to ensure that 100 trucks crossed the border to Gaza with humanitarian aid to be distributed by UN agencies, such as the world food program. In what is seen as a test of Netanyahu’s good faith, the United Arab Emirates want the trucks to be allowed to cross the border on Saturday, even though the Jewish Shabbat.

The United Arab Emirates believe they are acting with the effective support of Donald Trump, who told Gulf leaders on their country visit, which the most help should be allowed for hungry Palestinians. The United Arab Emirates do not believe that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the help distribution mechanism promoted by Israel as an alternative to the UN, is ready to distribute aid for at least a month, when many will have starved. A total of 119 humanitarian aid trucks have entered Gaza since international pressure increased on Netanyahu to allow help to enter the territory.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said on Friday that “the Palestinians in Gaza are suffering what may be the cruel phase of this cruel conflict.”

He said that only a “teaspoon of help” had come into Gaza “when a flood of assistance is necessary,” adding that 16,000 aid pallets, enough to fill 9,000 trucks, were ready to enter the track and accused Israel of imposing unnecessary obstacles to help distribution. He stated that four fifths of the territory had become a banned area for the population of Gaza, when declared a military zone by Israel’s defense forces.

A comprehensive network of Palestinian humanitarian groups said that so far only 119 humanitarian aid trucks have entered Gaza since Israel relieved the blockade on Monday. But the distribution has been hampered by withdrawals by groups of men, some of them armed, near the city of Khan Youis, the network said.

“They stole foods intended for children and families who suffer from severe hunger,” the network said in a statement, who also ordered Israeli air strikes against security teams that protected trucks.

A Hamas authority said six members of a security team in charge of protecting the loads were killed. There were no immediate comments from the Israeli Army.

The humanitarian group network stated that the amount of help received in Gaza was still insufficient and included only a limited range of supplies. He stated that the Israeli agreement to allow trucks to enter the territory devastated by war was a “misleading maneuver” to prevent international pressure that requires the end of the blockade.

Originally published by The Guardian on 5/23/2025

By Patrick Wintour – Diplomatic Editor