In a joint statement, the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have urged Israel not to execute a planned military operation in Rafah, warning that the consequences would be catastrophic.
The warning came amid reports of an imminent Israeli strike in the densely populated city, which currently houses around 1.5 million Palestinians.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with over 28,663 Palestinians murdered and 68,395 injured since October 7. The war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the Gaza’s population into internal displacement in the wake of acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or vandalized, according to the United Nations.
If Israel attacks Rafah, the humanitarian consequences would be devastating. The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Israel not to carry out the incursion, describing it as a “serious disaster.” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the situation in Gaza is beyond words and that the assault on Rafah would only worsen matters.
These Prime Ministers have expressed grave concern over the reports of Israel’s planned military operation in Rafah. In a joint statement, they urged Israel not to forge ahead with the plan and emphasized that there is nowhere else for civilians to go. They underlined the increasing international attention on the issue and urged the Israeli government to listen to its friends and the international community.
Also, the joint statement called for an instant humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages from both sides. The Prime Ministers stressed further that the need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza has never been greater and that rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian relief must be provided to civilians. They also stated that a two-sided solution is important in finding a path towards securing lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
