Israel urged to reconsider Gaza plan by Australia, New Zealand
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's security Cabinet approved an operation aimed at 'defeating Hamas' by taking control of Gaza City.
Israel risks violating international law by taking control of Gaza City and should reconsider its plan, the leaders of Australia and New Zealand warned.
'We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late,' Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon said on Aug 9 in a joint statement.
'Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security Cabinet on Aug 8 approved an operation aimed at 'defeating Hamas' by taking control of Gaza City, a move that could displace a million Palestinians living there and is drawing global backlash.
The decision stopped short of
a full Gaza takeover that Mr Netanyahu floated in an interview with Fox News on Aug 7.
'Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip,' Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon added, following talks in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Germany on Aug 8 said it is
halting deliveries to Israel of military equipment that could be used in operations in the Gaza Strip, including spare parts for tanks and other defence-related goods.
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Foreign ministers of Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Britain earlier on Aug 9 issued a joint statement also calling on Israel to abandon its planned Gaza City operation.
'It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians,' the ministers said. BLOOMBERG
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