SYDNEY: The leaders of Australia, New Zealand and Canada on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza strip, according to a joint statement released in response to reports regarding Israel’s planned military offensive in Rafah.
The joint statement of the three Prime Ministers said that they are gravely concerned by hints that Israel is planning a ground operation into Rafah. It added that a military offensive into Rafah would be catastrophic.
Joint statement with @JustinTrudeau and @chrisluxonmp. pic.twitter.com/Egqy6ZyrtZ
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 15, 2024
The statement saying a “humanitarian truce is urgently needed” in the Gaza Strip. According to the statement, around 1.5 million Palestinian people are taking refuge in the area, including many of their citizens and their families.
The joint statement maintained that with the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip already dire, the impacts on Palestinians from an expanded military offensive would be devastating. “We ask Israel not to go down this path”, the statement added.
The joint statement – cosigned by Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau, Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanes– also said that Israel “must listen to the international community” and that Palestinians cannot be made to pay the price of war.
The health ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday around 28,576 people including women and children have been killed in the territory during the war between Hamas and Israel. It further said that the latest toll also includes 103 people killed over the last 24 hours. The ministry said that 68,291 people have been wounded across Gaza since October 7.
