Scott Morrison describes ‘horrific’ scenes in Israel

Scott Morrison apologised as he spoke of the “horrific” scenes he witnessed during his trip to Israel with former UK prime minister Boris Johnson.

Scott Morrison has spoken about his recent trip to Israel with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, describing what they witnessed as “horrific”.

The former prime minister didn’t hold back when asked what he had seen, even apologising to those who were listening as he described the war zone to 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

“We went down to Kfar Aza, which is one of the kibbutz that were one of the scenes of the atrocities in the attacks that took place,” he said.

“To walk through what was once an incredibly peaceful place and to see the devastation and to be shown what happened and where it happened.

“The murders, the children being abducted and others being beheaded, I’m sorry, for those who are listening, but I mean, this is what happened.”

Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson witnessed ‘horrific’ scenes. Picture: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein

Mr Morrison continued, stating that he had never before heard about, or seen, anything like what had happened there in his life.

“There were reports of women being scalped,” he said.

“The premeditation of this attack, the level of drilling that would have gone on beforehand as they executed these atrocities without warning and unprovoked.

“It was, undoubtedly, the worst thing I’ve ever heard and ever had the misfortune to be in a place where that had happened.”

When asked if he had been shown any footage, Mr Morrison said he and Mr Johnson were presented with photos while touring with the Israeli soldiers who arrived just after the attacks.

Mr Morrison said they described how Hamas had left nasty surprises for them.

“The bodies were booby trapped, which was intended to kill those who were coming and providing aid and support to the people,” he said.

“They had their own photos, and they were sharing them with Boris and I, at the very site where these things were taking place.”

A destroyed house as a result of the Hamas attack on the kibbutz on October 27, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel. Picture: Amir Levy/Getty Images

People mourn by the coffins of five members of the Kutz family who were killed in the Hamas attack. Picture: Oren ZIV / AFP

Mr Morrison said he supported the White House announcement that Israel would hold momentary “pauses” in northern Gaza to help Palestinian civilians flee the city.

The former prime minister also said it wasn’t a decision influenced by him or any other former leaders.

“I’m pleased that Israel has made that decision,” he said. “And that’s a decision that they’ve made (themselves).

“In the statements that I signed along with the other former prime ministers, we said it wasn’t our task to instruct or lecture Israel on how they went ahead and conducted things operationally.”

As for the visit itself, which Fordham said “surprised a lot of people”, Mr Morrison said it wasn’t initially planned and came down to timing.

“I was in London on other business and Boris and I were catching up with friends,” he said. “We went through a lot together as Prime Ministers during the pandemic and AUKUS and trade agreements and so on.

“We were just catching up and he said, ‘Look, what are you doing this weekend?’ and I said I was heading home and he said, ‘Well, would you like to come to Israel with me?’”

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Originally published as Scott Morrison describes ‘horrific’ scenes in Israel