NEW YORK (AP) — The leaders of Canada, New Zealand and Australia urged Israel to pay more attention to the suffering of people in Gaza due to Israeli attacks and called for a ceasefire.
In a rare joint statement, the three countries indicated that the fight against Hamas was justified after the Palestinian armed movement carried out a major attack on Israel on October 7. But the civilian population of Gaza needs better protection.
Government leaders Justin Trudeau, Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese have expressed concern about the ever-shrinking space in Gaza where Palestinians can still remain safely.
The three made their appeal on the day the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly (153 votes) in favor of a ceasefire. The United States and nine other countries voted against the resolution. 23 countries, including the Netherlands, abstained from voting.
US President Joe Biden warned Israel that it was losing support due to the “indiscriminate” bombing of targets in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged a long-term solution to the conflict.
