Netanyahu accuses Keir Starmer of being 'on the wrong side of humanity' after Israeli diplomat couple shot dead

The Israeli Prime Minister attacked Sir Keir's recent comments after he released a joined statement alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney.

Mr Netanyahu said: "I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, and others. They're now proposing to establish a Palestinian state and reward these murders with the ultimate prize.

"Well, for 18 years, we had a de facto Palestinian state. It's called Gaza. And what did we get? Peace? No, we got the most savage slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.

"You won't be surprised to learn that Hamas thanked President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer and Carney for demanding that Israel end its war in Gaza immediately.

"Hamas was right to thank them, because by issuing their demand, replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas, these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power.

"They want Israel to stand down and accept that Hamas's army of mass murderers will survive, rebuild, and repeat the October 7th massacre again and again and again. Because that's what Hamas has vowed to do."

Mr Netanyahu went on to address the world leaders directly.

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, you're on the wrong side of humanity, and you're on the wrong side of history."

Read more: Two Israeli embassy staff members shot dead in 'targeted attack' outside Jewish Museum in Washington, DC

Read more: Suspected gunman screams ‘Free Palestine’ after young Israeli diplomat couple shot dead in Washington D.C.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told LBC that Netanyahu's comments were 'outrageous and obnoxious.'

He told Ben Kentish: "I think that this is outrageous and obnoxious to even suggest that there was any connection with the statements made by Prime Minister Starmer, President Macron, or Prime Minister Carney of Canada.

"Terror is terror. It's totally unacceptable and unforgivable to try and suggest that the leaders of friendly nations as England and France and Canada have contributed to (the shootings in Washington). It just proves again that Netanyahu is not on the right side of history."

Mr Netanyahu said while these leaders may think they're advancing peace, "they're not".

He added: "They're emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. And they give them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state.

"And mind you, it's not going to be a state free of Hamas when you establish a Palestinian state. We've seen it. The radicals take over. Iran sends them in and they take over. So don't give us this talk - 'it'll be a peaceful Palestinian state'. It won't be."

"But the hypocrisy doesn't stop there," he continued.

"These and other leaders have bought into Hamas propaganda that says Israel is starving Palestinian children. And not only is Hamas putting out this lie, 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. The press repeats it, the mob believed it, and a young couple is then brutally gunned down in Washington."

The Israeli Prime Minister's comments come after Sir Keir, Mr Carney and Mr Macron signed a joint letter condemning Israel's military action and blockade of aid into Gaza.

The three leaders opposed the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and said the level of human suffering in Gaza is "intolerable".

They said the Israeli government’s denial of aid “is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law”.

The leaders also called on Hamas to release the hostages it took in the “heinous attack” on October 7, 2023.

A young Israeli couple who were due to get engaged next week were shot dead in an attack outside the Jewish Museum in Washington DC.

Yaron Lischinsky and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim were gunned down in the attack allegedly carried out by a pro-Palestinian activist.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, shouted "free Palestine" as he was arrested.

Sir Keir condemned the killings, saying: “I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC.

“Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears.

“My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.”