Australia has joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the UK to condemn a plan by Israel’s Security Cabinet to take over Gaza City.
The statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office expressed strong disapproval from leaders of the nations, warning that the decision could potentially violate human rights laws.
“It will worsen the dire humanitarian situation, put the hostages’ lives at risk, and increase the chances of mass civilian displacement,” the statement declared.
“The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law.
“Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.”
The statement called for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire” amid the “worst-case scenario of a famine” in Gaza.
It also called on Hamas to release remaining hostages.
“We stand united in our resolve to achieve a negotiated two-state solution as the only means to ensure both Israelis and Palestinians can coexist peacefully, securely, and with dignity,” the statement continued.
Before the Security Cabinet gathered, Netanyahu stated that Israel intended to reclaim control over the entire area and eventually transfer authority to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas.
The outlined plans fall short of this, possibly due to concerns from Israel’s top general, who reportedly cautioned that it could endanger the roughly 20 hostages still alive and further burden Israel’s military after almost two years of regional conflicts.
Israel has consistently bombarded Gaza City and conducted numerous raids, only to find themselves returning to various neighbourhoods as militants regrouped.
A major ground operation there could displace tens of thousands of people and further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the territory.
It’s unclear how many people reside in the city, which was Gaza’s largest before the war. Hundreds of thousands fled Gaza City under evacuation orders in the opening weeks of the war but many returned during a ceasefire at the start of this year.
