Anthony Albanese has warned the situation in Gaza has gone “beyond the world’s worst fears” and accused Israel of denying aid to starving children in his strongest criticism to date.
Just a week after describing the reported killings of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza as “completely indefensible”, Mr Albanese has issued a new statement on the crisis.
“The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears,” Mr Albanese said on Friday.
“The position of the Australian Government is clear: every innocent life matters.
“Every Israeli. Every Palestinian.This conflict has stolen far too many innocent lives.”
Mr Albanese’s statement also accused Israel of denying aid to children in Gaza and killing civilians.
“Tens of thousands of civilians are dead, children are starving,‘’ Mr Albanese said.
“Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored.
“We call on Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law.”
It follows British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warning the Palestinian people have an “inalienable right” to a state of their own and French President Emmanuel Macron confirming he will support moves to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN general assembly,
“Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned,‘’ Mr Albanese said.
“Australia condemns the terror and brutality of Hamas and we reiterate our call for the immediate release of the remaining hostages.
“We continue to support all international efforts to facilitate a ceasefire, recognising that an immediate and permanent ceasefire gives the best hope of bringing hostages home and easing the agony of their loved ones.”
Mr Albanese said that the “legitimate aspirations” for the Palestinian people to have a state of their own was a bipartisan proposition.
“Australia is proud to have strongly supported the creation of the modern state of Israel,” he said.
“Then, as now, the global community envisioned two states: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.
“Recognising the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own has long been a bipartisan position in Australia.
“The reason a two state solution remains the goal of the international community is because a just and lasting peace depends upon it.
“Australia is committed to a future where both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples can live in peace and safety, within secure and internationally-recognised borders.
“Until that day, every effort must be made here and now to safeguard innocent life and end the suffering and starvation of the people of Gaza.
Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the “unspeakable and indefensible” humanitarian conditions in Gaza after aid groups warned of mass starvation.
In a statement this week, he warned that while the situation had been “grave for some time” but it has “reached new depths”.
“We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,” he said.
“I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace. We all agree on the pressing need for Israel to change course and allow the aid that is desperately needed to enter Gaza without delay.
“It is hard to see a hopeful future in such dark times. But I must reiterate my call for all sides to engage in good faith, and at pace, to bring about an immediate ceasefire and for Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages. We strongly support the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure this.
“We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.”
Israel-Gaza war
Mr Albanese has described recent actions by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza as “completely indefensible” confirming in the last week that he told Israeli President Isaac Herzog directly that Israel was losing support.
Describing the blockade on aid into Gaza as “completely unacceptable” he took issue with Israel’s “excuses and explanations”.
“We need to always engage in the world as it is, rather than as we would like it to be,” he said.
“Israel’s actions, many of the actions of the Netanyahu government, including by its ministers, have led my government indeed to sanction ministers in the Netanyahu government. We would not have thought that was on the agenda in 2022, when I was elected.
“Australia is a long-term supporter — and indeed played a role in the creation of the State of Israel.
“But at that time it’s important to remember that two states were envisaged and Australia and certainly my government, has continued to support two states in the Middle East: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.
“We want Israel to continue to exist within secure borders and to be able to live without the threat of terrorists such as Hamas engaging in the sort of atrocities we saw on October 7.
“But Palestinians have a legitimate aspiration for a state of their own and to be able to achieve prosperity, and that is something that has been a bipartisan position as well going back to John Howard who said there could be no peace in the Middle East, without dealing with the Palestinian question.”
