The leaders of Australia, New Zealand and Canada are calling, in a joint statement released today, for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, warning against an imminent Israeli attack on Rafah, on the closed border with Egypt.

“We are very concerned about indications that Israel is planning a ground attack on Rafah. Any military operation in Rafah would be disastrous,” says the text signed by the prime ministers of the three states, calling on the government of their Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu “not to take this path.”

“A humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed,” it added.

Mr Netanyahu reiterated yesterday that an attack would be launched against Hamas in Rafah, assuring that civilians would be allowed to leave the sector, without specifying where they would go.

The statement released by Canberra, Wellington and Ottawa called on Israel not to proceed, pointing out that Rafah is home to “about 1.5 million” Palestinians who fled there to escape shelling and fighting in other areas of the city. of a small Palestinian enclave.

Furthermore, he emphasizes that the ceasefire should not be “unilateral”, demanding that Hamas disarm and release the hostages it is holding.

The text recalls that a decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January, following an appeal by South Africa which denounced genocide, obliges Israel to protect civilians and guarantee that they have basic services and receive humanitarian aid. This is something “necessary under international humanitarian law”, insist the prime ministers. “Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of victory over Hamas.”