Anthony Albanese has appeared to downplay the prospect of Australia imposing sanctions on Israel over its actions in blockading aid into Gaza, saying his government would “follow our own path” despite allies like the UK threatening further actions against Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
The prime minister shrugged off calls by a pro-Palestine group within Labor for targeted sanctions on Israel, saying he was focusing on “peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians” rather than “soundbites”. But the Labor MP and former cabinet minister Ed Husic again said his government should consider sanctions against those directing operations against Gaza, while the former Labor foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Bob Carr also endorsed sanctions.
“If we do have our friends move, we should be ready to work with them,” Husic told ABC TV on Wednesday.
The UK, France and Canada threatened to step up “concrete actions” against Israel in a joint statement last Monday – including “targeted sanctions” – after the country’s military intensified military strikes on besieged Gaza despite aid agencies warning the Palestinian population is being plunged further into malnutrition and closer to famine. For nearly three months, Israel has blocked food, fuel, medicine and all other supplies from entering Gaza, worsening a humanitarian crisis for 2.3 million Palestinians.
Israeli troops on Tuesday opened fire near thousands of hungry Palestinians as a logistics group chosen by Israel to ship food into Gaza lost control of its distribution centre.
Albanese on Monday levelled his strongest criticism yet at Israel over its actions in Gaza, branding the weeks-long blockade “an outrage” and Israel’s explanations “untenable”. But when asked on Wednesday whether Australia would join the joint position moving toward sanctions, as called for by the Labor Friends of Palestine group, he questioned what that would mean.
“We follow our own path, and Australia determines our own foreign policy, and we have been very consistent the whole way through. What people don’t say when they put forward ideas like this, is what that means,” Albanese told a press conference in Brisbane.
“Unlike some of those countries, we don’t provide military assets to Israel or to that region. So we are in different circumstances. But we make it clear, as we have consistently: we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see hostages released, we say Hamas has no role in the future, but we want to see humanitarian aid delivered to people in Gaza.”
Asked whether Israel would agree to those actions without facing sanctions, Albanese responded: “What are the sanctions you are suggesting?”
“That’s the point. You are not sure. And that’s not a criticism of you [the reporter], it’s just a reflection of the reality. Soundbites can make a difference. What really makes a difference though … What we are interested in is substance,” he said.
“What we want is peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. We have made it clear that we support a two-state solution.”
Labor Friends of Palestine told Guardian Australia there was a “surge in anger and frustration among Labor members” that the government hadn’t done more.
Peter Moss, a member of the group, said Labor branches and conferences nationwide had passed many motions since 7 October 2023 calling for sanctions and other actions against Israel, and called on Albanese to heed the wishes of party members.
“It is disappointing for thousands of Labor members to see those views, expressed through the party’s democratic structures, dismissed by the Prime Minister as ‘soundbites’,” he said.
“We are calling on the government to impose targeted sanctions on those Israeli individuals and entities who have planned, promoted and continue to commit grave breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza.
“Labor members aren’t asking the government to follow anybody. We’re asking the Prime Minister to lead – by implementing long-standing ALP policy [on Palestinian recognition] and meeting Australia’s international law obligations.”
Australia will attend a UN conference in mid-June on the recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Australia last week joined 22 other nations in condemning Israel over its decision to allow only limited aid into Gaza, adding voice to a joint statement also signed by the UK, Canada and New Zealand.
Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, said in general Australia had capacity to level “a range” of sanctions, either autonomously or in concert with other nations. But he added that a consideration of any measures was whether they would be meaningful.
“Our economic and trade relationship with Israel isn’t as extensive as with other countries, so it’s unlikely any trade or economic sanction would have harmful impacts on the target state – but they could possibly be seen as symbolic,” he said.
Rothwell suggested that, in general terms, targeted sanctions could include placing restrictions on military-to-military cooperation or relationships. He said any form of sanctions would likely be more effective in conjunction with allies.
“There’s increasing evidence there’s a movement toward that,” Rothwell said.
Evans, speaking to the Nine newspapers, said Australia should immediately recognise Palestinian statehood and said enacting sanctions on Israel would “send a powerful message”.
Carr urged the government to put more pressure on Israel, including by recognising Palestine. In an interview on the ABC on Wednesday afternoon, he also backed sanctions against Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers.
Husic said there would be options for Australia to join the governments of the UK, France and Canada in any future sanctions regime.
“I think it would be wise to have targeted sanctions, looking at individuals who have been directing the operations in Gaza and clearly ignoring, violating international humanitarian law,” Husic told the ABC.
“They can be members of the Netanyahu government, members of the Israeli defence force. That is one option that able to be pressure on the Israeli government, working in concert with other countries, to free up humanitarian aid and particularly target assistance medical supplies in particular to help especially infants and children.”
