Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed Israel in what marks his strongest language yet to address the war in Gaza, finally calling out the months-long blockade of food into Gaza as “completely unacceptable” and an “outrage”.
It comes amid shocking findings that nearly half a million Palestinians are living in “catastrophic” levels of hunger while a million others can barely get enough food. United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher also warned last week that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours unless aid trucks filled with food and life-saving necessities make it into the strip.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Albanese said the Israeli Government’s excuses for denying the entry of food and essential supplies were “completely untenable and without credibility”.
“Israel’s actions are completely unacceptable. It is outrageous that there be a blockade of food and supplies to people who are in need in Gaza,” Albanese said.
He said he had expressed these criticisms directly to Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a meeting in Rome on the sidelines of Pope Leo’s inauguration mass.
“I made it very clear that Australia finds these actions completely unacceptable and we find Israel’s excuses and explanations completely untenable and without credibility,” he said, per the Sydney Morning Herald. “People are starving. The idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage.”
He also condemned Hamas as a terrorist organisation which should “have no role in the future of Gaza or the West Bank”.
“We make that very clear. We make clear that hostages should be released immediately. We have consistently and unequivocally opposed what happened on October 7,” Albanese said.
“But states which are democratic states, have a responsibility to behave in a way that is consistent with international law and with humanitarian concerns, and the whole world is concerned about what has occurred with the blockade and Australia will continue to make clear statements on that.”
For weeks, thousands of trucks carrying critical supplies and food have been parked at the Gaza border, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since unveiled a highly controversial plan to set up secure “distribution points”, with US backing.
Australia was among 23 countries, including the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, to condemn the decision to allow only limited aid into Gaza.
“It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives,” the foreign ministers wrote in a joint statement last week.
“Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.”
Israel relented to some of the international pressure around the 11-week blockade, allowing a small amount of food, medicine and other supplies to trickle into Gaza.
Around 107 aid trucks belonging to the UN and other aid groups carrying flour, food, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals were transferred into Gaza on Thursday, the Israeli military said, for a total of 305 since Monday when the blockade was relaxed.
UN secretary general, António Guterres, however, said on Friday that Israel had only authorised for Gaza what “amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required” to ease the crisis.
A number of Australian charities have also pushed the government to do more on Gaza. New polling by Oxfam Australia, ActionAid Australia and several other charities, released on Monday, reveals over four-in-five (82 per cent) Australians believe the prevention of food, medicine and water reaching civilians in Gaza is unjustified.
“With 9000 trucks waiting to enter Gaza, and at least 500 trucks of aid required per day to support the needs of the population, the small amount we’ve seen so far enter Gaza represents a trickle of water into an ocean of need,” Oxfam Australia’s acting chief, Dr Chrisanta Muli said.
“Australians want their government to take a stronger stance to halt the devastating destruction of Gaza and its people. They are clearly saying, ‘The status quo is unacceptable’.”
Michelle Higelin, executive director at ActionAid Australia, said Gaza is “hell on earth right now” and that the international community must do everything in its power to drive a permanent ceasefire.
Sally Thomas, humanitarian manager at Caritas Australia, also described the situation in Gaza as a “stark reminder of why international humanitarian law exists”.
“Failing to uphold these laws strikes at the heart of human dignity, with the vulnerable – children, women, the sick and the elderly – bearing the brunt, and paying with their lives. What is taking place in Gaza is an extreme level of suffering that simply cannot be accepted,” Thomas said.
The Israeli offensive has killed more than 53,939 Palestinians, largely women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
On Sunday, health officials in Gaza said that at least 3,785 people had been killed in the territory since Israel ended the ceasefire on 18 March.
Lead image: Getty
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