PM brands Israel’s denial of starvation reports in Gaza ‘beyond comprehension’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signalled he believes Gaza will be freed from Hamas’ rule, paving the way for recognition of a Palestinian state, as he slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims that Gazans are not starving.

Asked by pro-Palestine backbencher Ed Husic on the timeline for Australia to recognise a Palestinian state in the Labor caucus on Tuesday, Albanese repeated his criticism of Hamas’ role in prolonging the conflict but implored Israel to end the violence.

A charity distributes meals to Palestinians facing food shortages amid ongoing Israeli attacks and severe restrictions in Gaza on July 28.Credit: Getty Images

“While there is a caveat on any information provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented any journalists getting in,” Albanese said. “Those claims that there is no starvation are beyond comprehension.”

He was directly referring to remarks from deputy Israeli ambassador to Australia Amir Meron, who told journalists in a briefing on Monday that claims of starvation amounted to Hamas propaganda and relied on “false pictures” presenting a distorted view.

Albanese also made reference to similar remarks from Netanyahu, who said on Monday there was “no starvation in Gaza”, putting him at odds with aid agencies, the United Nations and contradicting widely shared images of malnourished children.

Husic lost his ministry after the election, freeing him to be more outspoken on the situation in Gaza. It is rare for MPs to ask challenging questions of the prime minister in Labor’s caucus meetings.

Albanese has emphasised in recent days that Australia would only recognise a state if certain conditions were met, including the removal of Hamas as a governing force from the strip it has ruled since 2007.

But responding to Husic, the prime minister quoted former South African president Nelson Mandela in saying that things can seem impossible until they are not. This was taken by some MPs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that Albanese believed Gaza could be freed from Hamas’ control.

Albanese will miss a debate on the Palestinian statehood at Labor’s Victorian party conference on the weekend, when he will be at the Garma festival in the Northern Territory.

Left-wing groups are expected to put forward motions to immediately recognise a Palestinian state and to sanction Netanyahu at the conference. Labor has sanctioned ministers in Netanyahu’s government, but has not indicated it would go as far as punishing the prime minister himself.

Asked about Albanese’s comments in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she was distressed by the images coming out of Gaza before calling for the return of the Israeli hostages.

“I’m pleased to see that aid is flowing further and better into Gaza, and I really encourage everyone who sees the situation for the reality it is, to remind others that Hamas’ control of the hostages could end the war tomorrow,” Ley said.

Albanese’s comments in the Labor caucus discussion came a day after Meron said that Israel did not recognise any famine or starvation in Gaza.

“This is a false campaign that is being [led] by Hamas, taking advantage of sick children in order to show a false claim and false presentation of hunger and starvation,” Meron said.

Netanyahu had earlier said it was a “bald-faced lie” that Israel was causing starvation. US President Donald Trump has since demanded Israel allow “every ounce of food” into the besieged strip and said there was “real starvation”.

“We can save a lot of people, I mean some of those kids. That’s real starvation; I see it and you can’t fake that. So we’re going to be even more involved,” Trump said during a visit to Britain this week.

With Matthew Knott, Brittany Busch.

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