Politics

Australia warns Israel against ‘unjustifiable’ ground offensive in Rafah

Sydney, Australia, Feb 15 (EFE).- Australia urged Israel on Thursday against carrying out an “unjustifiable” military attack in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza, where 1.5 million displaced Palestinians have taken refuge.

“Large-scale military operations in densely populated areas risk causing extensive civilian casualties. Australia believes this would be unjustifiable,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a senate committee in the parliament.

Australia’s statement comes amidst calls by several countries, including the United States and France, urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from his planned ground offensive in Rafah, announced on Sunday.

Australia, along with Canada and New Zealand, issued a joint statement on Thursday calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas.

“The protection of civilians (in Gaza) is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law,” the statement, signed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Canadian and New Zealand counterparts, Justin Trudeau and Christopher Luxon respectively, said.

“With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating,” it added.

“We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go,” the three countries said, adding, “Israel must listen to its friends, and it must listen to the international community.”

Israel’s military operation in Gaza has turned large swaths of the enclave into rubble.

According to the Gazan health ministry, controlled by Hamas, over 28,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and over 68,000 injured.

More than 80 percent of the 2.3 million population of Gaza are internally displaced since the war began on Oct. 7.

“Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas,” the statement said.

The three countries also urged Netanyahu to respect the decision of the International Court of Justice, which ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective” steps to prevent genocide in Gaza.

“The International Court of Justice has been clear: Israel must ensure the delivery of basic services and essential humanitarian assistance and must protect civilians. The Court’s decisions on provisional measures are binding.”

The statement also condemned the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, where more than 1200 people were killed and over 250 taken captive.

“Any ceasefire cannot be one-sided. Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately,” the statement said. EFE

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