Clarion India
GAZA – Canada, Australia and New Zealand — which along with the US and Britain make up the intelligence alliance known as the Five Eyes — have released a joint statement backing a ceasefire in Gaza, Reuters reports.
“We think it’s important that we have very close allies and like-minded countries speak together in support of the position that we’ve articulated,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, adding the statement had been under discussion “for some time”.
Australia and Canada abstained from an October UN resolution calling for a ceasefire, with New Zealand voting in favour.
The US is one of Australia’s closest allies. As well as the Five Eyes, the two nations are part of the AUKUS security pact with Britain, and have been in lockstep on foreign policy for decades.
Australia backs UN resolution for Gaza ceasefire in rare split with US
Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the country had supported a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza out of concern for civilians in the besieged enclave, in a rare split with close ally the United States, Reuters reports.
After dire warnings by UN officials over a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza in the two-month-long battle between Israel and Hamas, the 193-member UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire with 153 countries including Australia voting in favour.
“Australia has consistently affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself,” Wong told a news conference in Adelaide after the UN resolution passed.
“And in doing so, we have said as Israel must respect international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals must be protected.
“The resolution we have supported is consistent with the position we have previously outlined on these issues.
