Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of slander after sharply criticizing several Western leaders — including French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian former central banker Mark Carney, and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer. Netanyahu claimed that their calls to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza amounted to support for Hamas and antisemitism.
Netanyahu stated that the actions of the three leaders were not “advancing peace” but rather “emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever.”
His remarks sparked immediate backlash from international officials. The French Foreign Ministry and UK government figures responded strongly, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian access and a ceasefire. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also warned that only a fraction of the aid required is reaching Gaza, describing the situation as catastrophic.
Netanyahu’s comments have strained diplomatic relations and drawn condemnation from longtime allies, with critics accusing him of using inflammatory rhetoric to deflect from Israel’s handling of the ongoing conflict.
Source: The Guardian – 23 May 2025
