Australia, New Zealand, Canada Demand Ceasefire in Gaza, Criticize Israeli Settlements

Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and asked Israel to respond to a UN ruling declaring its occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. The nations emphasized the protection of civilians under international law and pushed for a two-state solution, condemning ongoing settlement expansions.

Australia, New Zealand, and Canada on Friday urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called on Israel to respond to a United Nations ruling declaring its occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. This follows a recent decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which deemed Israel's settlements in the area as unlawful.

The leaders stressed the importance of protecting civilians, stating, 'Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas.' They further urged Israel to hold extremist settlers accountable for violence and to work towards a two-state solution by reversing the settlement program in the West Bank.

The Israeli embassy in Australia condemned acts of violence against Palestinian communities. However, Israel's foreign ministry rejected the ICJ opinion as 'fundamentally wrong' and advocated for a political settlement reached through negotiations. The joint statement highlighted escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah and the urgent need for a Gaza ceasefire to prevent a broader regional conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)