Australia joins 23 nations raising pressure on Israel
Foreign ministers sign joint statement calling for ‘urgent action’ to ‘halt and reverse starvation’ in Gaza.
Source: Anthony Albanese
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has joined ministers from 23 other nations in raising pressure on Israel to alleviate the “unimaginable” crisis unfolding in Gaza.
The foreign ministers from around the world signed a joint statement calling for “urgent action” to “halt and reverse starvation”.
“Famine is unfolding before our eyes,” Wednesday’s statement said.
“We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international [non-governmental organisations’] aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating.
“All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment.”
The statement was also signed by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain.
Some EU member countries, including Germany and Hungary, did not sign.
Israel denies responsibility for hunger spreading in the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas militants of stealing aid shipments – which Hamas denies.
However, in response to a rising international uproar, Israel late last month announced it would let more aid into the enclave, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday confirmed Australia would join Britain, France and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.
The federal government had previously insisted recognition of Palestine was a matter of “when, not if”, so the announcement was a shift from comments made just weeks prior.
Australia’s decision was partially fuelled by the Israeli government’s decision to approve a plan to seize control of Gaza City, Albanese said.
“We make assessments based upon the totality of what is before us,” he said in Melbourne on Tuesday, highlighting a decision by the Israeli government to “double down on its military solution”.
“We have seen too many innocent lives being lost.
“The international community is saying that we need to stop the cycle of violence.”
In late July, Albanese stressed he would not be “driven by a time frame” on the recognition issue.
But less than a week later, Wong revealed Australia was co-ordinating with other countries on the issue amid concerns “there will be no Palestine left to recognise”.
She added recognition could be used to “isolate Hamas”, the designated terror group that ruled Gaza.
Wong has since said practical steps for recognition will be tied to commitments from the Palestinian Authority, which exercises partial civil control in the West Bank.
The commitments include assurances Hamas will play no role in any future government.
More than 140 of the 193 United Nations member states already recognise Palestine.
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Madonna laments ‘suffering’
Madonna has urged the Pope to travel to Gaza and “bring your light to the children before it’s too late”.
The superstar posted her appeal to the pontiff on social media on Monday, saying the birthday of her son Rocco — who turned 25 on Monday — prompted her to make the post.
Addressing Pope Leo XIV, she wrote: “Most Holy Father. Please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it’s too late. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering.
“The children of the world belong to everyone. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry,” she said.
“We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children. There is no more time. Please say you will go. Love, Madonna.”
The singer said she was not taking sides in the war, writing: “Everyone is suffering. Including the mothers of the hostages.
“I pray that they are released as well. I am merely trying to do what I can to keep these children from dying of starvation.”
The Pope recently renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, asking the international community to respect humanitarian laws and the obligation to protect civilians.
“I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” the pontiff said in July.
Aid workers and doctors have said that after months of Israeli blockade and turmoil in the distribution of supplies, children in Gaza with no previous conditions are starting to die from malnutrition.
Israel’s air and ground offensive, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack into Israel, has displaced most of the some two million Palestinians in Gaza and pushed the territory towards famine.
The United Nations said that across Gaza, more than 5000 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in May, though that is likely an undercount.
Doctors struggle to treat the children because many supplies have run out, the UN says.
Israel denies a famine is taking place or that children are starving.
It says it has supplied enough food throughout the war and accuses Hamas of causing shortages by stealing aid and trying to control food distribution.
-with AAP
