PM blasts Gaza hunger denial as Liberals sidestep
Dominic Giannini and Tess Ikonomou |
The prime minister has dismissed Israeli denials that there’s no starvation in Gaza, while the coalition sidesteps questions on who bears responsibility for the humanitarian crisis.
International pressure is mounting on Israel to let more humanitarian aid into Gaza, where it controls all entry points, as deaths attributed to malnutrition rise.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says claims from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and diplomatic officials that there’s no starvation in the war-torn territory were “beyond comprehension”.
“While there is a caveat on any health information which is provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented journalists from getting in,” he told a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday.
The prime minister has progressively strengthened his rhetoric against Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying the humanitarian situation had “gone beyond the world’s worst fears” and the Netanyahu government’s limits on food breached international law.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she was “incredibly distressed” by the images she had seen from Gaza.
But she did not directly respond to questions about whether she believed people were starving in the territory or if Israel’s policies had contributed to the deteriorating humanitarian situation for the region’s 2.2 million residents.
“We all want to see aid flow into Gaza and we all want the war to end and we all want the suffering to cease,” Ms Ley said.
“It’s very complex on the ground. It’s not something that we can make judgments about every move that is made.
“If we want the war to end, and we all do, we know the simplest, quickest way is for Hamas to surrender and release the hostages.”
Medical professionals who have worked in Gaza during the war, the United Nations and various international aid and humanitarian organisations have criticised Israel for blocking medical supplies and food.
One-in-three people “hasn’t eaten for days”, UN emergency relief chief Tom Fletcher said.
Mr Netanyahu maintains “there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza”, reiterating that Israel’s military action against Hamas will continue.
Liberal senator James Paterson said he didn’t believe Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war – which is illegal under international law – but it was important aid and food were provided to civilians.
“They have an obligation to ensure that people are fed,” he told Sky News when asked if Israel bore any responsibility for the situation in Gaza.
US President Donald Trump also contradicted the Israeli prime minister by suggesting people were starving in Gaza and suggested more could be done to improve humanitarian access.
While air drops of aid have been carried out into Gaza, humanitarian agencies say they aren’t enough to deal with worsening food shortages in the area.
The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation.
Israel’s military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages.
AAP
