Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney of “emboldening Hamas”, after they called for a halt to Israel’s military offensive and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Earlier this week, the leaders of the UK, France and Canada condemned the Israeli government’s “egregious” actions in Gaza, warning that the UK and allies would take “concrete actions” unless Netanyahu changed course.

In a post on X on Thursday evening, the Israeli prime minister said Hamas wanted to “destroy the Jewish state” and “annihilate the Jewish people”.

“I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others,” Netanyahu 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.”

Netanyahu said the actions of the leaders were not “advancing peace”, but “emboldening Hamas to continue fighting for ever”.His comments were made in a video posted online in which he addressed the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC on Wednesday. The attack has sent shock waves around the world and prompted Israeli missions to bolster security.

On Thursday, Starmer described the shooting as “antisemitic”, adding “my thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community”.

Downing Street said the government had offered its “full support to the Israeli embassy in London”.

Earlier this week, UK-Israeli relations plunged to their lowest for decades after the British foreign secretary, David Lammy, suspended negotiations over a new free trade deal, saying Israel’s cabinet ministers’ calls to “purify Gaza” by expelling Palestinians were repellent, monstrous and extremist. The UK also placed sanctions on some Israeli settlers.

On Friday, the armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, defended the UK’s condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and said he did not agree with Netanyahu’s claim that the UK, France and Canada were siding with mass murderers.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I condemn fully the murders of the Israeli diplomats in the United States, as has the prime minister very publicly.

“But we’re also absolutely clear that the best way to bring peace to the Middle East is with an immediate ceasefire being restored in Gaza, with Hamas releasing the hostages without any further delay, and with massive amounts of aid getting to the Palestinian people in Gaza – food, water and medical supplies being delivered – without delay.

“That’s the best way to secure a safe future for Israelis and Palestinians alike: with a ceasefire, with hostage release and with aid getting through.

“That’s the case that the prime minister has been making alongside our allies this week, and we should not move our focus away from the critical humanitarian situation that still exists in Gaza.”

He said the government’s thoughts went out to the families of the diplomats “brutally murdered in that antisemitic attack” in the US.

“We stand in support of Israel’s right to self-defence, as long as they conduct that within international humanitarian law, a position that we’ve had since those appalling [Hamas] attacks on 7 October.

“And we also are very clear that we need to see aid get to the people who are genuinely suffering in Gaza at the moment. That’s a consistent position that we’ve been making privately and publicly for many many months.”