United News of Bangladesh

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing them of siding with Hamas and being "on the wrong side of humanity." In a strongly worded video message released after Thursday’s fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, Netanyahu claimed the leaders had "effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power." He further accused them of aligning with “mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers.” In his video, Netanyahu said Hamas wanted to destroy Israel and annihilate the Jewish people. He said the Palestinian armed group had welcomed the joint UK, French and Canadian criticism of Israel's war conduct. Some of Israel's closest allies wanted Israel to "stand down and accept that Hamas's army of mass murderers will survive", he said. "I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice," he added. Gaza's main hospital overwhelmed with children in pain from malnutrition "You're on the wrong side of humanity, and you're on the wrong side of history." Netanyahu also condemned remarks by UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on infant deaths in Gaza, calling them false and blaming such claims for inciting violence like the Washington shooting. "A few days ago, a top UN official said that 14,000 Palestinian babies would die in 48 hours. You see many international institutions are complicit in spreading this lie," he said. "The press repeats it. The mob believed it. And a young couple is then brutally gunned down in Washington." In the days before the Thursday’s shooting, the UK, France, and Canada criticised Israel’s intensified military campaign in Gaza as “disproportionate,” calling the humanitarian situation “intolerable.” While Sir Keir condemned the Washington killings and denounced antisemitism, he also said Israel’s limited aid access to Gaza was “utterly inadequate,” prompting the UK to pause trade talks with Israel. The attack in Washington left Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, dead at a Capital Jewish Museum event. Police arrested suspect Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who reportedly shouted “free Palestine” during his arrest. Social media accounts linked to him suggest ties to pro-Palestinian movements. Authorities are investigating writings in which he accused Israel of genocide and criticised US policy. With inputs from BBC

The UK suspended free trade talks with Israel on Tuesday and hit West Bank settlers with sanctions, less than a day after vowing “concrete actions” if Israel didn't stop its new military offensive in Gaza. Pressure from close allies is mounting on Israel following a nearly three-month blockade of supplies into Gaza that led to famine warnings. Even the United States, a staunch ally, has voiced concerns over the hunger crisis, AP reports. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the government couldn't continue talks on upgrading its existing trade agreement with an Israeli government pursuing what he called egregious policies in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. “History will judge them," Lammy said. "Blocking aid. Expanding the war. Dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible. And it must stop.” Israeli’s ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, was summoned to the Foreign Office, where Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said he would call the 11-week blockade of aid to Gaza “cruel and indefensible.” The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was reviewing an EU pact governing trade ties with Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza. Kallas, speaking on Tuesday at a press conference in Brussels after chairing a meeting of foreign ministers, said “a huge majority” of member nations are “very keen on sending this message that the suffering of these people is untenable.” She did not provide clear details on timing and mechanisms for the review. Lammy said the UK was imposing sanctions on a further “three individuals, two illegal settler outposts and two organizations supporting violence against the Palestinian community.” He said the illegal Israeli settlements were spreading across the West Bank “with the explicit support of this Israeli government.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, called the sanctions against West Bank settlers “unjustified and regrettable” and said the free trade agreement negotiations were not being advanced by the UK anyway. While Lammy’s words were welcomed by some in the House of Commons, others called for stronger action, suggesting economic sanctions against Israel and recognizing the state of Palestine. A handful of members shouted for him to call Israel’s actions “genocide,” though Lammy labeled it “extremism” and “monstrous.” Still others criticized the joint statement, saying it favoured Hamas. “Opposing the expansion of a war that has killed thousands of children is not rewarding Hamas,” Lammy said. Israel eases Gaza blockade slightly; only 5 aid trucks enter since Monday The UK announcement followed comments by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called children's suffering in Gaza “utterly intolerable” and repeated his call for a ceasefire. “I want to put on record today that we’re horrified by the escalation from Israel,” Starmer said. Earlier on Monday, Starmer joined French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in issuing one of the most significant criticisms by close allies of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza and its actions in the West Bank. The three leaders threatened to take “concrete actions” if the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not cease its renewed military offensive and significantly lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. Netanyahu called the statement “a huge prize” for Hamas. Starmer said a ceasefire was the only way to free the dozens of hostages Hamas still holds. He also called for increased shipments of humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying the basic quantity allowed by Israel is “utterly inadequate.” “This war has gone on for far too long,” Starmer said. “We cannot allow the people of Gaza to starve.” While Israel allowed a first few trucks with baby food and desperately needed supplies to begin rolling into Gaza on Monday, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described it as a “drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed.” Israel said dozens more trucks entered Tuesday.