Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong’s response to attack on Israel draws criticism

Hundreds of people are dead after a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, but at home it’s the statements made by the PM and Foreign Minister that have drawn criticism.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has come under fire after she called for Israel to act with “restraint” in the face of an unprecedented attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Coalition says Israel have “every right” to defend itself, although the opposition’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, pleaded for “all parties” to work together to protect innocent lives and end the violence.

Australia’s peak national representative body of the Australian Jewish community say calls for de-escalation by “both sides” are “misconceived and only play into the hands of the terrorists”.

It comes as the Coalition hits out at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his delayed response to the events.

Hamas, recognised as a terrorist organisation by Australia, fired thousands of rockets into Israel on Saturday, catching the country – celebrating a religious holiday – by surprise.

Armed militants infiltrated towns, killing, injuring and kidnapping civilians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war, vowing his country would exact an “unprecedented price” for one of the deadliest attacks.

Israel retaliated by calling up reservists and launching airstrikes on Gaza, flattening several residential buildings.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong urged Israel to respond with ‘restraint’ – drawing criticism. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

World leaders and diplomats were quick to condemn the Palestinian attack, including Senator Wong.

“Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities and civilians,” she wrote on X – formerly known as Twitter.

“We call for these attacks to stop and recognise Israel’s right to defend itself.

“Australia urges the exercise of restraint and protection of civilian lives.”

But it was the last few words in Senator Wong’s statement that drew the ire of Opposition shadow frontbencher Michael Sukkar.

“Unbelievable, restraint? Israel has every right to defend itself with whatever force is required,” he said.

In his own statement, Senator Birmingham strongly condemned Hamas’ actions and urged “all parties to protect innocent lives and to work to end the violence”.

Israel launched a retaliatory attack on Gaza afterPalestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today. Picture: Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it was “yet another example of a deliberate act of violence intended to inflict maximum harm on innocent civilians”.

“The attack is a provocation. Israel has every right to defend itself in response and to deter future attacks and other acts of aggression, coercion, and interference,” he said.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the acts “constitute egregious war crimes” in the targeting of civilians and are “an armed attack against a sovereign state”.

“We expect the State of Israel to take all necessary measures to defend itself and to defeat the terror forces of Hamas and restore peace for Israel’s citizens,” chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

“We call upon the Australian Government to condemn without equivocation these flagrant crimes. Any calls for de-escalation by “both sides” or attempts to draw equivalences between the crimes of a terrorist organisation and the defensive measures of a sovereign and democratic state are misconceived and only play into the hands of the terrorists.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been called out for his delayed response. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday morning condemned the “abhorrent attack on Israel” but said Israel had “a right to defend itself”.

“This is a dreadful circumstance that people didn’t see coming,” he told ABC’s Insiders.

“We of course are worried about escalation.

“There is no precedent for what is occurring here.”

Mr Albanese had earlier come under attack by the Coalition for taking over 12 hours to respond to the attacks, writing on X at 6.23am Australian time that Australia “stands with our friend Israel in this time”.

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley was quick to call Mr Albanese out for his delayed response.

“It took him until 6am this morning to actually make a public statement about this. You don’t get nights off as a world leader and across the globe, we saw an immediate reaction from world leaders … and it took until this morning for Anthony Albanese to make that statement. I think he needs to be questioned about that today,” she told Sky News.

“I’m questioning his timing … You don’t get time off.”

Israeli media have reported about 250 deaths and more than 1500 injured by the Palestinian attack. Israel’s response has killed at least 232 people in Gaza and injured nearly 1700.

Former Israel ambassador Dave Sharma said the attack was ‘unprecedented’. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett POOL via NCA NewsWire

Dave Sharma, a former Liberal MP and Australian ambassador to Israel, on Sunday said the attack was “undoubtedly unprecedented”, made even worse by the failure of Israeli intelligence to identify the threat.

“Just as recently as last month the Israeli security establishment was declaring the situation there relatively stable. They did not have any warning of this,” Mr Sharma told Sky News.

“It took them quite a few hours to actually detect and then respond to this incursion. So there will need to be a lot of analysis and reflection about what has gone wrong.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong’s response to attack on Israel draws criticism