Anthony Albanese stands by Foreign Minister Penny Wong over Gaza hospital attack claim

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his Foreign Minister Penny Wong for calling on Israel to stop attacking hospitals and ambulances in Gaza amid backlash from Jewish leaders.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s comments calling on Israel to cease attacking hospitals in Gaza is consistent with the government’s position.

“What the Foreign Minister spoke about was perfectly consistent with the motion that was moved in this parliament that was supported by the Opposition on the floor of this parliament,” Mr Albanese said.

“It condemned anti-Semitism. It went on to say, to recognise that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, nor their needs and aspirations. It acknowledged the devastating loss of Israel and Palestinian life and the innocent civilians on all sides suffering.”

In the Senate, Ms Wong doubled down on her position: “As I said yesterday, under

international law hospitals, patients, medical facilities and medical practitioners have certain protections,“ she said.

The Israeli Defence Force doubled down on its claim that it is not breaching international law.

In an IDF briefing held at the Israeli embassy, officials working in their humanitarian law department said a hospital was a legal target under international law if it housed militants.

In a document from the briefing, the IDF claims Hamas uses hospitals as “strongholds” and claims “ambulances are used for transportation for terror operatives and weapons”.

But the IDF claims have done little to water criticism with Ms Wong highlighting attacks on hospitals and medical facilities as a breach of international law.

A document from the IDF justifying their attacks on medical infrastructure. Picture: Supplied

“We need steps towards a ceasefire. It cannot be one-sided. We know that Hamas is still holding hostages, and we know that a ceasefire must be agreed between the parties,” Ms Wong said on Insiders on Sunday.

“But we can also say that Israel should do everything it can to observe international humanitarian law.

“We have seen a harrowing number of civilians, including children, killed – this has to end. And I am, we are, particularly concerned with what is happening with medical facilities.

“I would make this point in relation to hospitals and medical facilities: that international humanitarian law does require the protection of hospitals, of patients and of medical staff.”

Ms Wong called for attacks on hospitals to be ceased.

“We do call on Israel to cease the attacking of hospitals. We understand the argument that Hamas is burrowed into civilian infrastructure. But, you know, I think the international community, looking at what is occurring in hospitals, would say to Israel: these are facilities protected under international law and we want you to do so.”

Senator Penny Wong wants the IDF to stop targetting hospitals. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Jewish community leaders have condemned Ms Wong’s comments and reiterated the justification from the IDF.

“We remind the Government that Article 19 of the Geneva Convention explicitly states that hospitals lose their protection if they are used for military purposes,” they said in a joint statement by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia.

“It is incontrovertible that Hamas uses Shifa and other hospitals for military purposes. There is no evidence that Israel is not observing the laws of armed conflict.

“The Government of Australia should not be lending any credibility to this false and harmful narrative.”

The leaders said criticism of Israel’s attack on hospitals was “libel”.

“The libel that any Israeli attack on Gazan hospitals from which Hamas operates would amount to war crimes only serve to demonise the state of Israel and its supporters. These libels are central to Hamas’ objectives as a terrorist organisation, and are reverberating across the world in a new wave of antisemitism,” they said.