CANADA warned Israel today that Lebanon’s sovereignty “must not be violated” after an Israeli minister openly called for annexation of Lebanese territory.

The warning follows an earlier demand by France for Israel to halt its plans to occupy southern Lebanon.

Israel has said it is planning to invade and take control of land in south Lebanon up to about 20 miles from the border, even though it does not appear to be making any real headway in the fight against resistance group Hezbollah.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said his military “will control the security zone up to the Litani,” saying that displaced Lebanese residents would not be permitted to return.

On Monday, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel’s full annexation of southern Lebanon, saying a “change of borders was necessary.”

The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli attacks has reached at least 1,072 people, with almost 3,000 wounded since the beginning of March.

More than a million people have been displaced by weeks of Israeli attacks in the south and east of the country, as well as the capital Beirut.

Many observers have described Israel’s actions as ethnic cleansing which amounts to a crime against humanity.

In a statement, Canada’s Ministry of Global Affairs said today that it “strongly condemns” Israel’s plans and warned Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “must not be violated.”

The ministry said: “We urge all parties to protect civilians, refrain from attacks on infrastructure, health workers and peacekeepers.”

Last week a British journalist based in southern Lebanon, Steve Sweeney, and his cameraman Ali Rida narrowly escaped being killed by an Israeli air attack as they were recording a report for Russia Today on al-Qasmiyeh bridge in Lebanon’s Tyre region.

On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Israel to step back from plans “which would have major humanitarian consequences and would exacerbate the country’s already dire situation.”