New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The prime ministers of New Zealand, Australia and Canada have issued a joint statement urging Israel not to begin a military operation into Rafah.
It says a military operation into the city in southern Gaza would be "catastrophic" and Israel must listen to its friends and the international community.
"We are gravely concerned by indications that Israel is planning a ground offensive into Rafah," the statement said.
"A military operation into Rafah would be catastrophic. About 1.5 million Palestinians are taking refuge in the area, including many of our citizens and their families. With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go.
"There is growing international consensus. Israel must listen to its friends and it must listen to the international community. The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas.
"An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed. Hostages must be released. The need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza has never been greater. Rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian relief must be provided to civilians. The International Court of Justice has been clear: Israel must ensure the delivery of basic services and essential humanitarian assistance and must protect civilians. The Court's decisions on provisional measures are binding.
"We are clear that a sustainable ceasefire is necessary to finding a path towards securing lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Any ceasefire cannot be one sided. Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately. We again unequivocally condemn Hamas for its terror attacks on Israel on October 7.
"Ultimately, a negotiated political solution is needed to achieve lasting peace and security. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand remain steadfast in their commitment to a two-state solution, including the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace, security, and dignity."
The joint statement followed similar sentiments from New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Wednesday.
Peters on Thursday said he had spoken with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in the morning, who in turn had been in contact with Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, and they had decided to synchronise the statement.
He said the conflict had escalated beyond the right for Israel to defend itself.
"The level of inhumanity is out of all proportion now. And whether it's justified or not, the reality is you can't justify this. That's the view of the mass majority of the countries in the world now, including the people we've been talking to.
"This is now way out - and has been for some time - out of hand."
He said he had also discussed the matter with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and he hoped more countries would step up and make similar statements.
"We can't do any psychological analysis but we expect that we would be listened to," he said. "The international request is that this not go a step further now."
Rafah is a city in southern Gaza which has come under heavy Israeli air strikes in recent days.
More than half of the Gaza Strip's population of 2.3 million is now crammed into the city on the border with Egypt, which was home to only 250,000 people before the war between Israel and Hamas erupted in October.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week announced he had ordered troops to prepare to expand its ground operation to Rafah. He vowed to defeat Hamas gunmen hiding in the city.
US President Joe Biden has said an Israeli offensive in Rafah "should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety" of more than one million Palestinians sheltering there.
More than four months on from the start of hostilities, much of the densely-populated strip of land on the Mediterranean is in ruins, with 28,340 Palestinians dead and 67,984 wounded, according to Gaza health officials, with many others believed to be buried under rubble.
