Australia, UK call for ‘immediate cessation’ of fighting in Gaza

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Australia and the UK on Friday called for the "immediate cessation" of fighting in Gaza, noting its “urgency” to allow inside the besieged Palestinian enclave.

In a joint statement following their meeting in Adelaide, South Australia, foreign and defense chiefs stressed that “all parties must act within international humanitarian law.”

Expressing “deep concern” at the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Penny Wong, Richard Marles, David Cameron, and Grants Shapps called on Israel to allow immediate, safe, unimpeded, and increased humanitarian relief to reach Palestinians in Gaza.

Reiterating their calls for “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” they said it was “a crucial step toward a permanent, sustainable cease-fire.”

The ministers said the two sides “support ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve this (cease-fire).”

- Acknowledge 'vital' role of UNRWA in Gaza

Acknowledging the vital role of the UN agency of Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA, the ministers warned of “devastating consequences” for the civilian population of an expanded Israeli military operation in Rafah.

Condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attack inside Israel, the ministers called for the “protection of civilians at all times.”

The two sides confirmed their commitment to provide increased support for humanitarian relief in Gaza.

The joint statement reaffirmed Canberra’s, as well as London’s, “commitment to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace and security, based on the 1967 lines, and discussed how recognition might assist in giving momentum toward that goal.”

Meanwhile, Malaysia on Friday announced additional aid to UNRWA while welcoming the resumption of aid by Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Iceland to the UN agency.

They were among the 12 major contributing nations, including the US and the UK, to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which halted the flow of aid in the wake of Israeli allegations against the UNRWA.

The southeast Asian nation said it will contribute an additional $2.1 million to UNRWA “as the situation continues to deteriorate” in Gaza.

Kuala Lumpur had last November paid a similar amount to the UN agency.

It is besides its annual commitment of $200,000 to the UNRWA since 2021 until next year.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.

Nearly 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and around 74,200 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war, now in its 168th day, has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in January issued an interim ruling ordering Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.