Penny Wong accuses Greens senator of peddling falsehoods in clash over Middle East

Penny Wong is calling out a Greens senator for spreading “disinformation” around the conflict in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has accused a Greens senator of spreading “disinformation” in a fiery clash over the Middle East.

Senator Wong was quizzed on a broad range of foreign policy issues when she fronted senate estimates on Thursday, amid a week dominated by the US Presidential election.

But Israel’s casualty-heavy war against Iran-backed Islamist militants in Gaza was a major flashpoint, with Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi alleging the Albanese government was giving Australia’s Middle East ally special treatment.

“You’ve urged concern many times, there’s been statements and statements, words and more empty words, but your strategy isn’t really being effective in restraining Israel one bit,” Senator Faruqi said.

“My question to you is, why won’t you go further? Why won’t you sanction Israel?

“Why won’t you expel the Israeli ambassador. What is stopping you from doing that? You have done it for other countries.”

Senator Wong replied that Australia “cannot resolve the conflict in the Middle East … by itself”, but that it could “work with others”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is accusing Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi of peddling falsehoods. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I understand your political point,” she began, before getting interrupted by an outburst from Senator Faruqi.

“It’s not a political point,” Senator Faruqi said.

“There’s a genocide happening. It is not a political point.”

Between calls for order, Senator Wong shot back: “I listened to you. Can you show me the same respect?”

Once calm was restored, she continued.

“I understand the political point you seek to make to attack the government,” she said.

“I would make the point, Senator, that there is no country that has placed sanctions on Israel.

“Sanctions are effective when they are done in concert with others, and that nothing you have asserted and no policy you have sought will do anything to end the war.

“It might make an important political grab here, which is what is being sought, but it will not end the war.”

But Senator Faruqi went in for another jab, saying “a genocide is happening and your government is taking no action to stop it”.

The International Criminal Court of Justice has not ruled Israel’s military action in Gaza genocide, but has ordered the Israeli government to take more action to prevent civilian deaths.

Senator Wong rebuked the claim, saying that Senator Faruqi continues to “pedal incorrect information” and “sometimes disinformation”.

Senator Faruqi then turned her attention to Zomi Frankcom, an Australian aid worker killed by an Israeli drone strike in Gaza.

The Australian government commissioned a report into her death and uncovered “serious failures” in Israeli military practices were responsible.

Senator Wong has been vocal in her criticisms of Ms Frankcom’s killing and has led a global push for better protections for civilians and aid workers in Gaza and other global conflicts.

Senator Faruqi asked what the Albanese government had done to get audio of Israeli military communication around the strike that killed Ms Frankcom.

Senator Wong said Australia’s embassy was seeking the audio from Israeli authorities but had not yet gotten it, noting that it “contains sensitive information”.

She offered to put forward some of her staff to talk more on what Australia was doing to support aid efforts, but Senator Faruqi dismissed the opportunity.

“I have seen your announcements,” she said, prompting the Foreign Minister to shake her head.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi dismissed an offer to hear more about Australian efforts to support aid workers in war torn Gaza. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Don’t shake your head disparagingly like that at me. I repeat, Minister, what is stopping you from doing anything real to hold Israel to account?

“Is it the pressure from the US? Is it the pressure from the pro-Israeli lobby? Is it because your government doesn’t think brown lives are valuable?

“If those are the cases, just be honest with the Australian people.”

When Senator Faruqi eventually left space for a response, Senator Wong again asked her to show the same level of respect she had been given.

“Senator, all lives, we mourn every life loss,” the veteran diplomat said.

“I’ve spent my whole life advocating for equality, for an end to prejudice, in a world where every human being is valued, regardless of their cultural heritage, their faith, who they are, where they come from.

“And I have the experience also of migration, and I’ve spoken about this in the Senate, including in support of you.

“I regard the assertion that you made as deeply offensive and false, and it is an example of the way in which you are seeking to make really awful assertions in an attempt to make a political point.

“One of the things that has been lost in this debate is the capacity for people to disagree about issues without denigrating one another, but your default is to denigrate.”

Upward of 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist group that runs Gaza.

Among Hamas’s stated aims is the destruction of Israel.

Nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, with close to two million people facing famine and rampant disease as supplies trickle in.

Aid groups and independent monitors have painted a dire picture in the Palestinian territory.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks last year, which killed around 1200, representing that largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.

Witnesses detailed horrific instances of sexual violence and entire families being slaughtered.

Much of the brutality was captured in videos that flooded social media.

Since the assault, Hamas’s allies in the region have rallied behind it, with Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon bombarding northern Israel with rockets.

Senator Faruqi has also criticised Israel for defending itself against Hezbollah.