[ad_1]
Australia says of Israel ground invasion of Gaza will have “devastating” effects on Palestinian civilians, as the foreign secretary reiterated the government’s strong opposition to the military offensive.
The Israeli army ordered civilians in parts of Rafah to leave on Monday ahead of a planned ground invasion of an area where more than one million Palestinians have taken refuge after being evacuated from other parts of Gaza.
Penny Wong said she reiterated to Israel that Australia opposed the invasion on Wednesday and called for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow the hostages to be freed and aid to flow unimpeded.
“More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are taking refuge in Rafah from fighting elsewhere,” she said on Wednesday.
“The impact on Palestinian civilians of an extended military operation would be devastating.”
Australia continued to support the work of Qatar, the US and Egypt to reach a ceasefire deal, she said.
Senator Wong on Monday said Australia had made it clear that Israel “must not go down this path”, expressing the nation’s “serious concern” and calling on the Netanyahu government to change course.
The Australian Council for International Development, the peak body for humanitarian agencies, has warned of “catastrophic humanitarian consequences” for those trapped in Rafah, including 600,000 children, if Israel goes ahead with the invasion.
“Civilians fled to Rafah because Israel said it was a safe zone,” said CEO Mark Purcell.
“Now the city risks becoming a death zone for a starving population with nowhere to run.”
He strongly backed the foreign minister’s comments but demanded the government act by halting arms sales to Israel and imposing sanctions on officials responsible for promoting the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
Amnesty International Australia’s Mohammed Duar said Australia must urgently do everything in its power to prevent further military offensives, death and destruction and ensure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
“Nobody, anywhere is safe,” Duar said.
Senator Wong held talks on the Middle East crisis with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority Mohammad Mustafa and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed on Tuesday evening.
Palestinian statehood was also discussed, with the minister acknowledging that the issue is being addressed by the international community.
Senator Wong met with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Special Envoy to Australia Reem Al Hashemi, who is in Adelaide.
Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the federal government, attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.
In response, the Israeli military has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured at least 77,000 others, according to the local health ministry.
[ad_2]
