The Prime Ministers of Canada, New Zealand, and Australia issued a letter renewing calls for an "urgent ceasefire" in Gaza on Friday morning. The Israeli Ambassador to Canada responded, urging Ottawa to intensify efforts against "those who seek to disrupt the global order."

The letter urges Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the latest ceasefire proposal endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden and approved by the United Nations Security Council.

"The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The humanitarian suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue," the letter states.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in the nine-month-long war. Netanyahu, who recently arrived in Washington, D.C. for talks with U.S. leaders, noted that the agreement to return Israeli hostages is "mature."

The letter also calls on Israel to "respond substantively" to the United Nations advisory opinion on the occupied Palestinian territories, describing the Israeli settlements there as "illegal."

Last week, the International Court of Justice stated that Israel has no right to sovereignty over the territories and that it violated international laws against the acquisition of territory by force when it seized the land 57 years ago. The opinion is not binding, but it could impact international support for recognizing the Palestinian state.

Netanyahu condemned the opinion, stating that the land is part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people.

A two-state solution, but without Hamas

The leaders also reiterated their positions regarding a two-state solution ultimately, hedging this demand as a commitment "to work towards an irreversible path to achieving it."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his counterparts wrote that a two-state solution should not include Hamas in leadership. The group, which Canada has designated as a terrorist entity, should have "no role in the future governance of Gaza."

The message comes just days after Hamas and the rival Fatah faction announced their agreement to form a joint government for the Palestinian territories in a potential post-war vision. The two groups met in Beijing for talks. They issued a message revealing a unity agreement but provided little detail on when and how such a government would be formed.

Hamas has ruled Gaza for 17 years. Fatah is the main force in the U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority, which manages parts of the occupied West Bank.

Israel Responds

The Israeli message, attributed to Israeli Ambassador to Canada Ido Moed, claims that the complete release of hostages is the "only solution" for achieving a ceasefire.

Moed also reiterated Hamas's demands "to stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields" and to lay down their arms.

He states that calls for a two-state solution are impossible amid tensions with Hamas. He blamed Iran for ongoing conflicts with neighboring countries and the influence on a Canadian man killed by Israeli police after he brandished a knife near the town of Netiv HaAsara, 300 meters north of the Gaza border.

The man was shot on Monday after threatening local security officials, according to Israeli police. Canadian consular services are investigating in the area.

Moed cited "reports" suggesting that the man became radicalized online.

Israel and its allies have widely criticized the coalition announcement.