Israel is losing almost all its allies as it forges on in Gaza
Many of
Israel's
closest international allies have broken publicly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for its relentless
pummeling of Gaza
and freezing of desperately needed humanitarian aid.
Why it matters:
Netanyahu had unprecedented international legitimacy to fight back against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks. But a gradual decline in support as the war dragged on has now turned into a diplomatic tsunami.
Driving the news:
Netanyahu lost many of his remaining friends in the West, outside of the U.S., over the last two months after terminating a ceasefire in March and blocking all deliveries of food, water and medicine to Gaza.
What they're saying:
'We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response,' President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the U.K. said in a joint statement on May 19.
State of play:
Israel's isolation is moving beyond mere rhetoric.
The other side:
Netanyahu and his government have responded to the criticism by accusing European leaders of antisemitism and claiming they're caving to pressure from the Muslim minorities in their countries. But Israel also
agreed to allow some aid into Gaza
for the first time since March.
Behind the scenes:
In a series of Security Council meetings back in March, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar warned Netanyahu that suspending humanitarian aid would not weaken Hamas, but would drive away Israel's allies.
What to watch:
While Trump seems to have cooled on his own plan to expel all 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to build a new 'riviera,' Netanyahu said last week for the first time that the war won't end until that plan is implemented.
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