The prime ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand issued a joint statement yesterday on Rafah, Gaza's southernmost cityThe consequences of military action "will be catastrophic."
"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is already dire, expanding the impact of military operations on Palestinian civilians," the statement saidIt will be devastating
We urge Israel** not to follow this path. Civilians simply have nowhere to go
The statement said that more and more people agree with IsraelThe views of the international community must be heeded, "Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay for [Israel's] defeat of Hamas".
Rafah is located at the southernmost tip of the Gaza Strip, close to the Egyptian borderThe nearby Rafah crossing is the only non-Israeli-controlled access point in the Gaza Strip that can be connected to the outside world.
In the Israeli-Gaza war beginsThe first few weeksRafah was declared a so-called "security zone" by IsraelMore than 1 million Palestinians from other parts of Gaza have fled to Rafah
Earlier this week, however,Israel launched a series of air strikes on Rafah。According to the Palestinian Authority, at least 67 people were killed in **, including a large number of civilians. Israel said the attack wasCover for its army to rescue two hostages held by Hamas in Rafah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he planned a ground offensive against Rafahto thwart the last bastion of Hamas。He claimed that Hamas was hiding in the city. Israel also suspects the remaining 130-oddSeveral of the hostages can be found in Rafah
The actions of the Israeli army in Rafah caused panic among peopleFind a way to continue fleeing
Netanyahu said he asked the Israeli military to develop a plan to evacuate Palestinians before invading Rafah, andA "safe passage" will be guaranteed for Palestinians in Rafah
However, Israel is facing increasing international pressure and has been widely condemned by international human rights organizations and world leaders.
Yesterday, Australia's prime minister, Penny Wong, called the ground incursion into Rafah "unreasonable", adding that it would give asylum to those seeking refuge thereThe lives of more than 1 million civilians have been further underestimated
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that if the Israeli army invaded Rafah, it could cause a "great tragedy".
Senior diplomats of Germany and the United Kingdom also expressed concern.
The United States is working with allies in the region to push for a deal," Biden said MondayA temporary ceasefire will last for at least six weeksto free the hostages in Gaza and increase humanitarian assistance.
Regarding Israel's plan to attack Rafah, Biden spoke with Netanyahu on Sunday and said Israel did not have a "credible and executable plan to ensure the safety and support of the millions of people who are hiding there."You shouldn't have attacked Rafah