Gaza / Australia, New Zealand and Canada immediately call for a humanitarian ceasefire

Its leaders Australiaher New Zealand and his Canada they call, with their joint announcement that they made public today, to be proclaimed immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Stripwarning against Israel’s imminent attack on Rafah, on the closed border with Egypt.

“We are very concerned about indications that Israel is planning a ground attack on Rafah. Any military operation in Rafah would be catastrophic,” reads the text signed by the prime ministers of the three states, calling on the government of their Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu “not to take this path.” “A humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed,” it added.

As APE-MPE reports, Netanyahu reiterated yesterday that an attack will be launched against Hamas in Rafah, assuring that civilians will be allowed to leave the sector, without specifying where they will go.

The statement released by Canberra, Wellington and Ottawa called on Israel not to proceed, pointing out that Rafah is home to “about 1.5 million” Palestinians who fled there to escape shelling and fighting in other areas of the city. of a small Palestinian enclave.

Furthermore, he emphasizes that the ceasefire should not be “unilateral”, demanding that Hamas disarm and release the hostages it is holding.

The text recalls that a decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January, following an appeal by South Africa which denounced genocide, obliges Israel to protect civilians and guarantee that they have basic services and receive humanitarian aid. This is something “necessary under international humanitarian law”, insist the prime ministers. “Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of victory over Hamas.”

Biden suspends Palestinian deportations for 18 months

THE joe biden, who is criticized by part of his electoral base for his policy of strong support for Israel, he decided to suspend for eighteen months the deportations of Palestinians who are in the USthe White House announced yesterday Wednesday.

“In light of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian needs on the ground,” the US president signed an executive order that “protects the majority of Palestinians living in the United States, with certain exceptions,” from deportation, his national security adviser explained. White House, Jake Sullivan, with a press release released by the US presidency yesterday.

Persons who have been irrevocably convicted by justice, or “considered to pose a risk to public security” will not benefit from this suspension of deportations, he clarified.

According to a report in the New York Times, the measure could benefit about 6,000 people.

The US president, who is running for a second term, has been strongly criticized for his positions on the war in the Gaza Strip, especially from the more progressive wing of Democratic supporters and Arab Americans.

Although a staunch supporter of Israel, Joe Biden is increasingly showing displeasure in Washington over the way Israeli military operations are being conducted in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the unprecedented October 7 attack by Hamas.

As reported by APE-MPE, he recently described the Israeli retaliation as “excessive”, while his government has been constantly stressing recently that civilians must be protected in view of the expected Israeli attack on Rafah, on the closed border of the Gaza Strip with Egypt .