House divided: leaders spar over Israel-Gaza motion

Tess Ikonomou, Dominic Giannini, Kat Wong and Nyk Carnsew |

Hundreds of Australians touched down in Sydney on Monday night after fleeing war-torn Beirut.
Hundreds of Australians touched down in Sydney on Monday night after fleeing war-torn Beirut.

Anthony Albanese has failed to secure bipartisan support from the coalition in condemning escalating violence in the Middle East, as deep divisions remain over the Israel-Hamas war.

The prime minister introduced a motion on Tuesday in the House of Representatives to commemorate the first anniversary of the October 7 offensive in which Hamas killed 1200 Israelis and took more than 250 people hostage.

It included a call for the immediate release of the remaining Israeli hostages, recognition of the number of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza and an immediate ceasefire in the enclave and Lebanon.

People embrace as Australian nationals arrive on a repatriation flight
Further repatriation flights are expected to leave Beirut on Tuesday. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton blasted Mr Albanese for trying to “walk both sides of the street” and said the coalition could not support the motion.

While Labor’s motion passed the lower house, Mr Dutton tried to bring on a debate about the issue after Question Time.

“This prime minister sees domestic political advantage in the position that he’s taken, that’s how disgraceful the position is,” he told parliament.

“Today is the day where this parliament was meant to mark what should be a solemn moment, a solemn moment where 1200 people lost their lives and that is the position that we put to the house.”

The Greens said the “appalling” October 7 attack deserved condemnation but reiterated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and sanctions on Israel.

Mr Dutton labelled their stance “racist and anti-Semitic” and asked the prime minister if he remained critical of the party.

“There have been moments of anti-Semitism and racism in some of the responses that we have seen in the political debate taking place here in Australia,” Mr Albanese replied.

Speaking earlier, Mr Albanese said “this past year must have felt like a cruel eternity” for the loved ones of those killed on October 7.

“So much has been lost, loved ones buried. We join all of them in their grief.”

Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns said the “lives of too many innocent people were cut down in an instant” in the attack.

He said recent protests had “some of the most aggressive and unnecessarily confrontational” symbols of hate and terror.

Jewish Liberal MP Julian Leeser said the coalition wished it could support Labor’s motion.

“We can’t have a ceasefire at the moment that would allow terrorist organisations, that we list as terrorist organisations in our own country, to regroup and reform and continue to attack innocent civilians,” he said.

More than 1200 Australians, permanent residents and immediate family members have been evacuated from Lebanon.

Six Australian government flights have ferried people to safety, while a further 3892 Australians and their families are registered to depart, with vulnerable and displaced passengers prioritised.

In two weeks, Israel’s bombing campaign has killed more than 1400 Lebanese people.

In response to the 2023 attack by Hamas, Israel bombed Gaza, killing more than 41,000 people and leaving most of the territory’s residents displaced and facing starvation, according to the local health ministry and humanitarian organisations.

The crowd look on during a Jewish community vigil
Jewish communities held vigils to mark the first anniversary of the Hamas attack. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

The first anniversary of the attacks was marked across Australia with vigils held by the Jewish community to remember those killed, the families grieving and the hostages who remain captive.

Community leaders warned of an unprecedented rise of anti-Semitism in Australia since the Hamas attack and called for the federal government to do more to stem the tide of abuse.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is reviewing the visa of a US guest speaker who reportedly called October 7 a day of celebration at a rally at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney’s west.

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