“I think all New Zealanders, all Australians, will be horrified by what they see on the news, and it has certainly plumbed new levels,” he said. “The latest action we have seen from Israel in the past 24 hours is wrong.”

Albanese said it was a matter of “when, not if” Australia recognises Palestinian statehood, echoing the words of Treasurer Jim Chalmers and foreshadowing an expected move at or before next month’s United Nations General Assembly.

He was speaking shortly after Foreign Minister Penny Wong united with four of her Western counterparts to reject Israel’s push to intensify the war amid fears of horrific civilian casualties.

Wong and her fellow foreign ministers from Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Britain issued a joint statement saying the decision to invade Gaza City would “aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians”.

“We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire,” the foreign ministerssaid.

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They called for an increase in aid deliveries – because “the worst-case scenario of a famine is unfolding in Gaza” – and the immediate release of all hostages without any precondition.

The foreign ministers said the Palestinian Authority – which controls parts of the West Bank – “must have a central role” in any future governance arrangements in Gaza, pushing back on Netanyahu’s insistence that they be excluded.

Netanyahu has accused his critics of rewarding Hamas, declaring his goal was not to take over Gaza but to rid the territory of the terrorist group.

The Israel Defence Forces are preparing to move on Gaza City within eight weeks and will order Palestinians to leave the area by October 7 – the second anniversary of the Hamas terror attack that ignited the war.

The evacuation is to be followed by a ground offensive into Gaza City, the most populated area of the Gaza Strip, in a bid to wipe out Hamas in zones where the terror group has so far resisted Israeli attacks.

Far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition have been pushing for a total takeover of Gaza, though the military has warned this could jeopardise the lives of surviving hostages.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said he was “gravely alarmed” by the Israeli government’s plan.

“This marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians,” he said.

Guterres also urged Hamas to release the remaining hostages from the 50 it is thought to be keeping out of 251 people it kidnapped in the October 7 attacks. Israeli authorities expect 20 hostages could still be alive.

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The UN Security Council was preparing to hold an urgent weekend meeting in New York to discuss the Israeli policy.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, an ally of Israel in the debate about recognising a Palestinian state, highlighted the concerns about the new offensive by announcing plans to halt the sale of any weapons to Israel that could be used in Gaza.

Merz said Israel had a right to defend itself and that Hamas must release the hostages, adding that Hamas had to be disarmed and should not play any role in the future of Gaza.

He said, however, that Israel’s tougher military action “makes it increasingly unclear” how those goals would be achieved.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Israeli decision “must be reconsidered”, adding that the hostages had to be released from their inhumane conditions.

“And humanitarian aid must be given immediate and unhindered access to Gaza to deliver what is urgently needed on the ground,” she said.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the decision to escalate the offensive in Gaza was wrong, and he urged the Israeli government to reconsider it immediately.

“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed,” he said.

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Netanyahu responded to Germany’s criticism by speaking to Merz on Friday night, local time, and expressing his disappointment with the arms ban.

“Instead of supporting Israel’s just war against Hamas, which carried out the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.