Canada urges Israel not to press ahead with ‘devastating’ Rafah offensive

An Israeli military offensive into the densely populated area where some 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge in the Gaza Strip would be “catastrophic,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said late Wednesday.

He said in a joint statement with the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand that the impact of such an incursion into Rafah would be “devastating” given the already-dire humanitarian situation.

“We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go,” the statement said.

“There is growing international consensus. Israel must listen to its friends and it must listen to the international community.

“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.”

The statement follows similar warnings from the United States, other western allies and the United Nations. U.S. President Joe Biden said earlier this week that Israel must not move ahead with a prospective military operation in Rafah without a “credible” plan to keep civilians safe.

The city is located along the border with Egypt, where the only crossing that has allowed limited traffic since the conflict began is heavily controlled.

Trudeau’s statement marked Canada’s strongest language yet on Israel’s conduct in the region, more than four months into its conflict with Hamas.

The federal Liberals have faced criticism, including from the government’s own caucus, for not putting more pressure on Israel to abide by interim orders the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ highest court, handed down last month.

The court made the ruling as it decided to hear a case brought by South Africa