“None of this changes the fact that the hostages need to be released, of course, that needs to happen. But what we are watching on the other side of the world is indefensible … the war needs to end.”
Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon attacked the joint statement. “It is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas,” Maimon said on X.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley said the return of hostages still held by Hamas was a priority. “There are still hostages hidden in tunnels, and a way to end the situation is for those hostages to be released by the terrorists, Hamas, who control so much of the activity there,” Ley said.
She did not say whether she supported the government’s decision to sign the statement criticising Israel.
Opposition frontbencher Jonathon Duniam went further, saying Australia’s decision to sign the letter was “a rather alarming move by the government” that turned “a blind eye to how this conflict started on October 7″, when Hamas killed about 1200 people in Israel.
“It’s a sad turn of events for our government to have joined with other countries in signing this letter. I think that it is not the right approach for the government to have taken,” Duniam told Sky News on Tuesday morning.
Penny Wong issued a fresh ceasefire demand alongside counterparts from 24 other countries in a jointly signed statement.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“It is important here that, of course, conflict de-escalates and that we see a return to peace, but that does not mean Israel cannot defend itself. That’s what this letter is basically talking about.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the Coalition wanted to “see aid reach those who deserve it”, but the primary responsibility lay with Hamas to release hostages and ensure aid reaches civilians.
“There are still hostages in Gaza, there are still hostages hidden in tunnels, and a way to end the situation is for those hostages to be released by the terrorists Hamas, who control so much of the activity there,” she said.
Greens leader Larissa Waters called for the government to sanction the Netanyahu government, saying that “the Israel regime isn’t listening to stern words and I would love Australia to be doing more here”.
The international community has criticised the replacement of established NGOs with the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. According to UN Human Rights Council figures published last week, almost 900 people were killed in Gaza while trying to get food; “674 of them were killed in the vicinity of GHF sites”.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern districts of the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah, an area of Gaza that had been largely untouched by the conflict and where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians had sought refuge. The incursion has led to speculation that Hamas is holding large numbers of hostages there.
The statement from the 25 nations also called out soaring settler violence against Palestinians on the West Bank, and hit out against the Israeli proposal to build a “humanitarian city” in Gaza, which former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert recently condemned as a “concentration camp”.
“Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law,” the joint statement said.
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In a fiery response posted on X, Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the joint statement as “disconnected from reality”, adding that Hamas was ultimately responsible for the scale of destruction and suffering since its October 7, 2023, attack.
Since then, more than 58,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s Gaza offensive, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
“The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognise Hamas’ role and responsibility for the situation. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides,” the ministry said.
Israel and Hamas have been engaged in ceasefire talks, but there appears to be no breakthrough and it’s not clear whether any truce would bring the war to a lasting halt.
“Instead of agreeing to a ceasefire, Hamas is busy running a campaign to spread lies about Israel. At the same time, Hamas is deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid,” the foreign ministry said.
The joint international statement reaffirmed the nations’ support for those involved in brokering a ceasefire deal, including the US and Qatar.
“We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region,” it said.
Last month, Australia was among a group of nations, including Britain and Canada, to sanction two hardline Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
With Reuters, AP
