In a rare joint statement, the leaders of Australia, Canada and New Zealand warned Israel on Thursday against a potentially “catastrophic” ground offensive against the southern Gaza city of Rafah, adding to growing global concerns.

The three Commonwealth countries asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “not go down this path”, expressing deep and growing concern over Israel’s prosecution of the months-long war. “Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians are seeking refuge in the area, including many of our citizens and their families,” the U.S. allied group said. “Expanded military action would be devastating. We urge the Israeli government not to pursue this path. Civilians simply have nowhere to go.”

According to Gaza authorities, the death toll in the face of the Israeli offensive has now exceeded 28,000. Netanyahu vowed to press on, saying Israeli forces would soon launch a “robust” operation in Rafah, a city filled with countless Gazans displaced by fighting elsewhere in the region. Israel believes Hamas operatives responsible for the Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,160 Israelis are hiding in the area, while the Palestinian Islamist group also took about 130 hostages.

The United States provides significant military and diplomatic support to Israel and has been working with Qatar and Egypt to try to broker a ceasefire and repatriate the remaining 130 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, about a quarter of whom are Israelis. Considered dead. However, the Israeli prime minister accused Hamas of making unrealistic demands during ceasefire talks in Cairo.

His comments late Wednesday came hours after local media reported that Netanyahu ordered the Israeli delegation not to return to talks. “Israel has not received any new proposals from Hamas in Cairo to release our hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu insists that Israel will not give in to Hamas’s delusional demands. A change in Hamas’ position will allow progress in negotiations ,” Netiyanghu’s office posted on X.

On Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yov Galante held another conference call. A Pentagon press release said Austin stressed “the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring the flow and access of humanitarian aid before taking any action against Hamas in Rafah.” The report also said the two discussed Israel’s military operations in Rafah. Rafah’s operation to rescue the two hostages and the negotiation of the hostage agreement, adding that Galante briefed Austin on the Israeli offensive in Khan Younis.

(Institutional investment)