No deal for Australians stuck in Gaza
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and counterparts in the Middle East about providing a safe exit for Australian citizens stuck in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and counterparts in the Middle Mast about providing a safe exit for Australian citizens stuck in Gaza, but there has been no breakthrough as Israel escalates its military response to Hamas.
After Israel expanded its ground operations in the Gaza Strip in a “second phase” of the Jewish state’s military response to the Hamas terror attacks, Senator Wong spoke to Mr Blinken about securing the safe exit from the war zone for civilians, including 88 Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family.
But there has been no solution struck for at-risk Australians, given the opening of a border crossing for humanitarian reasons would need to be endorsed by the US, Israel, Egypt, Hamas and other governments in the region.
The Albanese government is pushing for the temporary opening of the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt, allowing civilians to flee ahead of a potential large-scale ground invasion.
Senator Wong has also spoken about the plight of Australian citizens with the foreign ministers of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said Australia was urging for the “protection of civilian lives and the observation of international law as the conflict continues”.
“Australia continues to advocate with the US, Egypt, Israel, and governments with influence in the region, for the opening of the Rafah border crossing open for humanitarian purposes, including the passage of civilians and the safe passage of Australians and their families,” the spokeswoman said.
“We are doing what we can to support Australians and their families in Gaza, including providing the best available information and options for their safety, and communicating through all available channels.”
On Sunday, Senator Wong publicly urged Australians in Lebanon to “leave now while commercial flights remain available”.
“If armed conflict increases, it could affect wider areas of Lebanon and close Beirut airport,” she said. “The Australian government may not be able to assist you to leave.”
The high-level diplomatic discussions came as Paul Keating distanced himself from a proposed letter to be signed by former prime ministers backing Israel and condemning Hamas.
Mr Keating said he had rejected the proposal by Jewish businessman Mark Leibler for all former prime ministers to sign a letter being drafted by the Zionist Federation of Australia.
The Australian understands other prime ministers have considered signing the statement, including John Howard.
Peter Dutton accused the government of being divided on the Israel conflict, after Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke last week refused to reject suggestions Israel was committing “genocide” against Palestinians.
The Opposition Leader said Mr Burke was “playing to his constituency in his own electorate when he should be acting in the national interests”.
“I think the Prime Minister should have picked the phone up immediately to Tony Burke and really given him a dressing down,” Mr Dutton told Sky News. “And the government should be speaking with one voice of condemnation against Hamas at the moment and instead, you’ve got people running off doing their own thing.
“And Tony Burke, to his great shame, is playing to his constituency within his own electorate, when he should be acting in the national interest.”
Mr Dutton said Hamas would not be satisfied until they “drive the Jewish people into the sea”, defending Israel’s response to the attack earlier this month.
“They don’t believe that people should exist and Hamas, given an opportunity they would wipe out, would slaughter every Jewish person to the last child standing,” he said. “And so should there be a reaction to a terrorist attack.
“The Australian public would demand exactly that from our Australian government if Australian citizens were in the same scenario.”
Trade Minister Don Farrell said all members of the government had “condemned the actions of Hamas terrorists a couple of weeks ago”.
“Obviously, individual ministers represent their particular communities,” Senator Farrell told Sky News. “Nobody wants to see the death of innocent civilians in this terrible conflict.”
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