‘Devastating’: Australia’s warning to Israel on Gaza
Australia has expressed serious concerns about potential “devastating consequences” if Israel launches military strikes on Rafah in southern Gaza, where 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, December 5, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Israel must “listen to its friends and the international community”, saying there was growing consensus for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
“Many civilians who were displaced in Israeli operations in the north have moved south to this area, often under Israeli direction,” she said.
“Israel now must exercise special care in relation to these civilians.
“Not doing so would have devastating consequences for those civilians and cause serious harm to Israel’s own interests.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed off international criticism about the military operation in Rafah, saying civilians would be granted safe passage to leave.
The Palestinian presidency criticised the decision, accusing Israeli of trying to forcibly displace people.
“The Palestinian people will not abandon their land and will not accept being forcibly displaced from their homeland,” it said in a statement.
More than 1200 people were killed and 240 others taken hostage when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, in what the Australian government has declared a terror event.
Israel’s subsequent war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians and wounded another 66,000 people, according to the local health ministry.
New Zealand has urged Israel to rethink its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where many have sheltered from attacks in its war with Hamas.
On Sunday night local time, Israel launched a major air attack on the the city, which borders Egypt.
There are fears that a ground offensive will follow as President Benjamin Netanyahu signals his desire to hunt and kill Hamas militants who were responsible for the surprise October 7 attacks on Israel.
On Monday afternoon, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon added his country to the long list of those asking Israel to refrain from further bloodshed.
“Palestinian civilians cannot pay the price of Israel trying to defeat Hamas,” Mr Luxon said.
“There are 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah at the moment. We are extremely concerned about that.”
Mr Luxon said New Zealand “does not support Israel’s operations in Rafah” but – echoing sentiments from US President Joe Biden – if Israel were to proceed, it must offer civilians a lifeline.
“We want to see proportionate, controlled, targeted and precise action from Israel,” he said.
“A failure to do so undermines it’s long-term security in terms of what it does within the region, causing resentment clearly, and not getting us any closer to a peaceful diplomatic solution to the Middle East peace process.
“The reality is both sides need to be able to get around the table and actually find a pathway to sustainable ceasefire.”
Mr Luxon said New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was engaged in diplomatic efforts to get Israel to pull back.
Mr Peters said on Sunday that “the humanitarian consequences of a ground offensive would be appalling”.
The UK, Germany, EU and Egypt are among those to issue similar statements of concern.
AAP
