Australian PM joins NZ, Canada in call for Gaza ceasefire


The New Daily
Dec 12, 2023, 

Australia supports the creation of a sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip but Hamas must give up its weapons, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says in a rare joint statement with his counterparts from New Zealand and Canada.

“We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza,” the statement released by the three prime ministers early on Wednesday said, as the Israeli bombardment of Hamas militants in the enclave continued.

“The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians,” the leaders said.

The rare three-way statement from the three leaders came as the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a non-binding resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The vote on Wednesday (AEDT) was backed by 153 member states, with 10 against and 23 abstentions.

It was the second attempt by the UN General Assembly, which called in October for “a humanitarian truce” in a resolution adopted with 121 votes in favour, 14 against and 44 abstentions.

It also followed the US veto of a similar move in the Security Council at the weekend.

Health authorities in the Hamas-run Gaza say the death toll from Israel’s offensive has passed 18,000.

Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau also said any ceasefire “cannot be one-sided”.

“Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms,” they said.

The three leaders condemned “Hamas’ unacceptable treatment of hostages” and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the captives.

The Australian and Canadian governments consider Hamas a terrorist organisation while New Zealand authorities have designated the entity’s military wing a terrorist group.

The joint statement condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 and the “heinous acts of violence perpetrated in those attacks, including sexual violence”, after militants killed 1200 people and took more than 200 hostages.

The three governments recognised Israel’s right to defend itself.

“In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law,” they added.

There was also “no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza”, the leaders said while opposing “the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the re-occupation of Gaza, any reduction in territory and any use of siege or blockade” and backed a two-state solution.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is expected to visit Israel and other countries in the Middle East in January.

Israel condemns UN vote

Israel was quick to react to the UN resolution on Wednesday.

Its representative in New York, Gilad Erdan, called the General Assembly resolution “hypocritical”, because it did not mention Hamas.

Erdan said a ceasefire would “only prolong death and destruction in the region”.

“A ceasefire will only benefit the terrorists that steal the humanitarian aid for themselves,” he said, adding that it would be a “death sentence for countless more Israelis and Gazans”.

The US’s ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the US supported aspects of the resolution, including that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. But it wanted an amendment that condemned the “abhorrent” 7 October attacks.

“We must work to build a foundation for truly sustainable peace, one where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in states of their own,” she said.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden warned Israel said Israel had support from “most of the world”, including the US and European Union.

“But they’re starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place,” he told a campaign fundraising event in Washington.

He said ultimately Israel “can’t say no” to an independent Palestinian state – something that Israeli hardliners oppose.

-with AAP