Key PointsThe three leaders released a statement urging Israel to respond to a UN court ruling from last week.They said they are concerned by the escalation of hostilities and rhetoric between Hezbollah and Israel.Israel’s bombings and ground offensive in Gaza have killed almost 40,000 Palestinians since 7 October.
The prime minister has joined forces with the leaders of Canada and New Zealand to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Anthony Albanese, Justin Trudeau and Christopher Luxon released a joint statement on Friday urging Israel to listen to concerns raised by the international community.
“The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue,” the statement read.
“An immediate ceasefire is needed desperately.
“Civilians must be protected, and a sustained increase in the flow of assistance throughout Gaza is needed to address the humanitarian situation.”
The three leaders urged Israel to respond to
which deemed its occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.
“We are gravely concerned about the prospect of further escalation across the region.”
An escalation of hostilities and rhetoric
and Israel was also flagged as a concern by the leaders.
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and has since built settlements in the West Bank and steadily expanded them.
Israeli leaders argue the territories are not occupied in legal terms because they are on disputed lands, but the United Nations and most of the international community regard them as occupied territory.
Israel’s more than nine-month-long bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza has killed almost 40,000 Palestinians since 7 October, according to the local health ministry.
Almost
while 495,000 are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Israel’s campaign was a response to Hamas’ 7 October attack, when the group killed 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages, according to the Israeli government.
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