‘It must end’: Australia, New Zealand, Canada call for immediate Gaza ceasefire
Australia, New Zealand and Canada on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and asked Israel to respond to a United Nations court that last week ruled that the West Bank settlements and Israel’s military rule there are illegal.
“Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community,” the leaders of the three countries said in a joint statement.
“The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end,” the leaders said, adding that they “remain unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas.”
The leaders also said Israel needed to hold extremist settlers accountable for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians, reverse its settlement program in the West Bank, and work toward a two-state solution. [Continue reading…]