Australia joins UK, Germany, Italy and New Zealand in condemning Israel’s planned Gaza City takeover

Joint statement warns Netanyahu’s new ground offensive will worsen ‘catastrophic humanitarian situation’ as international outrage grows

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has joined fresh international condemnation of Israel’s plans to control more of Gaza in a new ground offensive, warning it risks breaching international law and putting the lives of hostages and civilians in renewed danger.

Wong joined the foreign ministers of Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the UK in a joint statement on Saturday, saying the plans by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to control Gaza City will make an already perilous situation worse.