Canada joins allies in warning Israel that ground offensive in Rafah would be 'catastrophic'

As Israel threatens to launch a military ground offensive in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, members of the international community — including Canada — are urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider.

In a joint statement released Wednesday night, the prime ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand said they are "gravely concerned" by indications that Israel is planning an offensive, saying it would be "catastrophic" if carried out.

"About 1.5 million Palestinians are taking refuge in the area, including many of our citizens and their families," the statement said.

"We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go. There is growing international consensus. Israel must listen to its friends and it must listen to the international community."

More than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its military incursion into Gaza in October 2023, according to Palestinian officials. Israel has faced criticism from human rights agencies for its offensive, as well as accusations of genocide.

Among the dead are dozens killed in Israel's special raid on Rafah on Monday. The raid — conducted under the cover of airstrikes — rescued two Israeli hostages, but local health officials say at least 67 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others were wounded.

According to UNRWA, the UN agency that provides Palestinians with aid and essential services, nearly 1.5 million people currently reside in Rafah.

That's six times bigger than the city's population before Oct. 7, as more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge in the city from the Israeli offensive that has laid waste to most of the Gaza Strip.

Those not jammed into overcrowded shelters are camping on the streets, on the beach and on the sandy strip of territory next to the border wall with Egypt — wherever they can find a spot to stay put.

"I'm very concerned about what's going on in Gaza, in particular in Rafah. The operation would be devastating and is devastating to Palestinians and all those seeking refuge," Mélanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister, told reporters on Monday.

"What the Netanyahu government is asking them to do, which is to leave again, is unacceptable. Because they have nowhere to go and so that's why we need right now for the violence to stop."

Earlier this week, U.S. President Joe Biden told Netanyahu that Israel shouldn't launch a military operation into Rafah without a credible plan to ensure the safety of Palestinians sheltering there.

Israel's allies in Europe have also called on the country to hold off. Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot called it "unjustifiable," saying on Tuesday that it was "hard to see how large-scale operations in such a densely populated area would not lead to many civilian casualties and a bigger humanitarian catastrophe."

Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, echoed those comments.