Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Canada and Australia, has called for a new pause in fighting in the Israel-Gaza conflict and support for urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire.
Luxon, alongside Australia's Anthony Albanese and Canada's Justin Trudeau, released a joint statement today mourning lives lost on both sides of the conflict, "unequivocally" condemned Hamas' attacks, including sexual violence, on October 7, recognised Israel's right to exist and defend itself, and said it must respect international humanitarian law.
They expressed alarm at the "diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza".
"The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians."
They remained "deeply concerned" at the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and regretted a recent pause wasn't extended.
"We want to see this pause resumed and support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.
"There is no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza."
The trio supported the right of Palestinians to self-determination and emphasised Gaza must not be used as a platform for terrorism.
"We reaffirm that settlements are illegal under international law. Settlements and settler violence are serious obstacles to a negotiated two-state solution."
The leaders also condemned rising antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab sentiment in their countries.
'Israel has a tough decision to make'
It comes as US President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel risks losing international support because of “indiscriminate bombing” during its war with Hamas, but that he’s not sure the country’s staunchest conservative leaders are getting the message.
Speaking at a fundraiser for his reelection campaign in Washington, Biden said, “Israel has a tough decision to make. Bibi has a tough decision to make.” He added of Netanyahu, “I think he has to change his government. His government in Israel is making it very difficult.”
“One of the things that Bibi understands,” Biden said “is that Israel’s security can rest on the United States. But, right now, it has more than the United States. It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting them. But they’re starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place.”
Biden also called out Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of a far-right Israeli party and the minister of national security in Netanyahu’s governing coalition. Ben-Gvir opposes a two-state solution and has called for the Israel to reassert control over all of the West Bank and Gaza.
Biden suggested that he wasn’t sure Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu’s war Cabinet understand the implications of the ongoing bombing.
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