Australia, Canada, and New Zealand Urge Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

The Australian prime minister has teamed up with the leaders of Canada and New Zealand to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Anthony Albanese, Justin Trudeau, and Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement on July 26 afternoon urging Israel to heed the concerns raised by the international community.

“The situation in Gaza is dire. The human suffering is intolerable. It must end,” the statement declared.

“An immediate ceasefire is urgently required.

“Civilians must be safeguarded, and there needs to be a sustained increase in the delivery of aid throughout Gaza to address the humanitarian crisis.”

The three leaders called on Israel to heed the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from last week, which declared its occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.

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“We urge Israel to respond meaningfully to the ICJ’s advisory opinion, and ensure accountability for the ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the extensive expansion of settlements in the West Bank which violate international law, and strive towards a two-state solution,” the statement added.

“We are deeply worried about the potential for further escalation across the region.”

The leaders also highlighted concerns about the escalating hostilities and rhetoric between the militant anti-Israeli group Hezbollah and Israel.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem in a war in 1967 and has continued to expand settlements in the West Bank.

It argues that the territories are not occupied legally because they are on disputed lands.

However, many countries, including Australia, refer to the areas as “occupied territories.”

Israel’s bombing campaign and ground operation in Gaza over the past few months have resulted in the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians since October, as reported by the local health ministry.

Almost 90% of Gazans, around 1.9 million people, have been displaced, with 495,000 facing severe food insecurity.

The campaign was launched in response to an attack by Hamas on October 7, during which the group reportedly killed 1200 people and took over 200 hostages, according to the Israeli government.