(Sydney) The leaders of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, allies of Washington, warned Israel on Thursday against a “catastrophic” ground operation in the town of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Urging Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “not to go down this path,” the three Commonwealth countries issued a rare joint statement expressing their deep and growing concern about Israel’s continuation of a protracted war. for many months.
“Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge in the area, including many of our citizens and their families,” the group of leaders from countries allied with the United States said.
“An expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere for civilians to go.”
PHOTO RONEN ZVULUN, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Despite growing international pressure and a Palestinian death toll which now exceeds 28,000, according to the Gaza authorities, Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to continue the armed offensive against Hamas.
He announced a “powerful” operation in Rafah by Israeli forces, potentially devastating in this overpopulated town in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Israel vowed to “destroy” Hamas after the attack carried out on October 7 by commandos of the Islamist group in southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to a count of AFP produced from official Israeli data.