Australia has joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the UK to condemn a plan by Israel’s Security Cabinet to take over Gaza City.

A statement issued by Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office said leaders from the nations “strongly reject the decision,” and said they could break human rights laws.

“It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians,” the statement said.

“The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law.

“Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.”

The statement called for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire” amid the “worst-case scenario of a famine” in Gaza.

It also called on Hamas to release remaining hostages.

“We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity,” it said.

Ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel planned to retake control over the entire territory and eventually hand it off to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas.

The announced plans stop short of that, perhaps reflecting the reservations of Israel’s top general, who reportedly warned that it would endanger the remaining 20 or so living hostages held by Hamas and further strain Israel’s army after nearly two years of regional wars.

Israel has repeatedly bombarded Gaza City and carried out numerous raids there, only to return to different neighbourhoods again and again as militants regrouped.

A major ground operation there could displace tens of thousands of people and further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the territory.

It’s unclear how many people reside in the city, which was Gaza’s largest before the war. Hundreds of thousands fled Gaza City under evacuation orders in the opening weeks of the war but many returned during a ceasefire at the start of this year.