Former prime minister Tony Abbott says many Australians on ‘wrong side’ in Israel’s fight against Hamas, Iran

Marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, the ex prime minister said the West was under threat from a “new axis of dictatorships”.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says the “wellbeing of mankind” is being “threatened by a new axis of dictatorships united only by their hatred of the West”.

He said he believed too many Australians were on the “wrong side” in Israel’s fight against Hamas and Hezbollah.

In a strongly worded statement shared to mark the first anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, Mr Abbott said Israel should be applauded for its fight against terrorism organisations Hamas and Hezbollah amid growing unrest and tensions in the Middle East.

He said Israel was “fighting for everyone because ‘death to the infidels’ Islamism is potentially coming for all of us”.

“Right now, the wellbeing of mankind is threatened by a new axis of dictatorships united only by their hatred of the West,” he shared on Twitter.

“Along with Ukraine and Taiwan, Israel is in the front line of freedom and deserves the backing of all free countries and their citizens.

“Israel, indeed, has shown the rest of us how to fight and how to win.”

Statement on one-year anniversary of October 7 attacks pic.twitter.com/RsEv1GO3HQ

— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) October 6, 2024

Mr Abbott also shared his support for Israel to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, despite public concerns from US President Joe Biden stating America would not support such an escalation of events.

Mr Abbott said the world would be a “better place” if the Iranian nuclear program was terminated.

“As for the current warnings to Israel not to retaliate against Iranian nuclear facilities, does anyone seriously think that these aren’t the precursors to nuclear weapons?” he said.

“Israel has every right to deny the means of a new Holocaust to a country bent on bringing it about,” he said.

Mr Abbott’s words contrasted with the statement released by Greens leader Adam Bandt, who accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing a “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.

He said Australia was “not just a bystander” and is “complicit in this appalling conflict,” denouncing Labor’s decision to not support UN resolutions on Palestinian statehood, and continuing to engage in two-way arms trades with Israel.

While Mr Bandt said the attacks on October 7 were “appalling,” he said there needed to be the “very same commitment to compassion, honesty, peace and justice” over the attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

“There are many who are also waiting for news of their loved ones’ fate nearly a year after being taken hostage by Hamas and the refusal of the Netanyahu government to reach a ceasefire and secure their release,” he said.

“The Greens reiterate our call for the unconditional release of the hostages, just as we call for the release of the many thousands of Palestinians held as political prisoners in Israeli prisons.

“We condemned the taking of hostages a year ago and we continue to condemn hostage-taking for the war crime that it is.”

Originally published as Former prime minister Tony Abbott says many Australians on ‘wrong side’ in Israel’s fight against Hamas, Iran