Israel’s Smotrich slams UK, Canada, France for calling for end of war in Gaza

Israel's far-right minister Bezlal Smotrich said the UK, Canada and France have “morally aligned themselves with a terrorist organisation that raped, slaughtered, murdered and burned women, babies, and children," and that "they have gone so far as to seek to reward terrorism by granting it a state."

His comments come after the leaders of the three countries issued a joined statement on Monday calling on Israel to bring the war in Gaza to a halt, warning that its “disproportionate” military operations in Gaza may be violating international law.

"Israel will not bow its head before this moral hypocrisy, antisemitism, and one-sidedness. It will continue its just and moral war until Hamas is destroyed, the hostages are returned, and the threat from the Gaza Strip to Israeli citizens is eliminated,” Smotrich said.

He added: "Israel will never agree to the establishment of a terrorist state in its midst that would endanger its existence and threaten the future of the Jewish people."