An Israeli military offensive into the densely populated area where some 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge in the Gaza Strip would be 香蕉视频直播渃atastrophic,香蕉视频直播� Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said late Wednesday.
He said in a joint statement with the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand that the impact of such an incursion into Rafah would be 香蕉视频直播渄evastating香蕉视频直播� given the already-dire humanitarian situation.
香蕉视频直播淲e urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go,香蕉视频直播� the statement said.
香蕉视频直播淭here is growing international consensus. Israel must listen to its friends and it must listen to the international community.
香蕉视频直播淭he protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas.香蕉视频直播�
The statement follows similar warnings from the United States, other western allies and the United Nations. U.S. President Joe Biden said earlier this week that Israel must not move ahead with a prospective military operation in Rafah without a 香蕉视频直播渃redible香蕉视频直播� plan to keep civilians safe.
The city is located along the border with Egypt, where the only crossing that has allowed limited traffic since the conflict began is heavily controlled.
Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 statement marked Canada香蕉视频直播檚 strongest language yet on Israel香蕉视频直播檚 conduct in the region, more than four months into its war with Hamas.
The federal Liberals have faced criticism, including from the government香蕉视频直播檚 own caucus, for not putting more pressure on Israel to abide by interim orders the International Court of Justice, the United Nations香蕉视频直播� highest court, handed down last month.
The court made the ruling as it decided to hear a case brought by South Africa alleging that Israel is committing genocide as it targets Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Wednesday evening香蕉视频直播檚 statement noted that the court ordered Israel to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance.
South Africa香蕉视频直播檚 government said Tuesday it had lodged an 香蕉视频直播渦rgent request香蕉视频直播� with the UN court to consider whether Israel香蕉视频直播檚 targeting of Rafah was a breach of its provisional orders.
Trudeau and his counterparts also said a sustainable ceasefire is necessary and cannot be one-sided, reiterating their condemnation of Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the conflict.
That day, militants killed 1,200 people in a brutal assault on Israel and took about 250 hostages.
Israel retaliated by declaring war on Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian territory has been under almost constant bombardment since and local authorities say more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed.
International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas suffered a setback on Wednesday as Israel reportedly recalled its negotiating team and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of hobbling the high-stakes negotiations by sticking to 香蕉视频直播渄elusional香蕉视频直播� demands.
Netanyahu香蕉视频直播檚 remarks came hours after local media reported that the Israeli leader had ordered an Israeli delegation not to continue talks in Cairo, raising concerns over the fate of the negotiations and sparking criticism from the families of the roughly 130 remaining captives, about a fourth of whom are said to be dead.
The relatives of the hostages said Netanyahu香蕉视频直播檚 decision amounted to a 香蕉视频直播渄eath sentence香蕉视频直播� for their loved ones.
The mediation efforts, steered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, have been working to bring the warring sides toward an agreement that might secure a truce.
The sides have been far apart on their terms for a deal. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until 香蕉视频直播渢otal victory香蕉视频直播� over Hamas and the return of all the remaining hostages.
Hamas has said it will not release all the captives until Israel ends its offensive, withdraws from Gaza and releases a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including top militants.
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