‘Disgusting’: Detail in photo sparks rage after Greens refuse to support Israel’s right to self-defence

The Greens have been widely condemned for a bizarre stunt in the federal parliament where they refused to support Israel's right to self-defence.

The Greens have refused to back a motion defending Israel and the nation’s right to fight back against Hamas in the wake of the militant group’s attacks which have left at least 1400 dead.

An image of the party’s MPs, Stephen Bates, Max Chandler-Mather, Elizabeth Watson-Brown and leader Adam Bandt sitting alone in parliament was a stark reminder of their opposing views, with all other parties agreeing to support Israel.

Mr Bandt also sought to add an amendment to accuse Israel of war crimes and declare the invasion of Gaza “not just a humanitarian catastrophe, but a war crime”.

Two Sydney Teal MPs, Kylea Tink and Sophie Scamps, and Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie supported the amendment.

Greens MPs Stephen Bates, Max Chandler-Mather, Elizabeth Watson-Brown and leader Adam Bandt sit separately from the rest of parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

Mr Bandt told parliament that while the Greens joined “everyone in this parliament in mourning the 1300 Israelis who have lost their lives” he wanted to highlight “there are also between 2300 and 2600 Palestinians who have lost their lives, many of whom are children”.

“And we mourn them as well,” he said.

“This is now moving beyond self-defence into an invasion, and it is up to Australia as a peace-loving country to join the push to stop it.”

Teal MPs Kylea Tink and Sophie Scamps during a division in the House or Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger slammed the move as “disgraceful” on Sky News while host Andrew Bolt predicted the Teal independents involved would face a backlash at the next election.

“In those blue ribbon Liberal seats I can see people being disgusted with those two and Jason Falinski and Trent Zimmerman if they front up again they will probably win those seats back,” he said.

One Jewish man, Osher Feldman, wrote on social media site X that the picture of the Greens sitting separately will “live in infamy and utter disgrace for the Australian Greens”.

“They refused to support a motion to condemn Hamas who still holds Israeli hostages,” he wrote.

The Greens have been widely condemned for failing to support a motion condemning Hamas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip told The Australian that the Jewish community were particularly disappointed in the actions of the two Teal independents.

“Whilst the Jewish community expects such behaviour from the Greens … Ms Scamps and Ms Tink have turned their back on the Jewish communities in their electorates at their time of need,” Ms Ossip wrote.

He said by voting with the Greens, they had aligned themselves with the most extreme members of the parliament.

Richard Marles described the Greens performance as ‘despicable’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

While the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-CEO Alex Ryvchin described the Greens as “so hardwired in their loathing of Israel and distrust of the Australian Jewish community that they could not even extend symbolic solidarity with our community”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles labelled the Greens action “despicable” saying they “really couldn’t miss this moment more”.

Despite the stunt the original motion passed by an overwhelming 134 votes to four.

The Greens’ amendment was eventually voted down 107 to seven.