‘We don’t accept’ South Africa’s genocide case: Penny Wong

Penny Wong has given the strongest signal yet that Australia does not support South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel, as she unveiled a $21m aid package.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has given the strongest signal yet that Australia does not support South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel in the International Court of Justice, saying support for the court’s work does not mean the Albanese government accepts the premise of the case.

Speaking in Amman following talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi – whose government strongly supports South Africa’s claim at the ICJ – Senator Wong said Australia respected the independence of the court and its role in upholding international law. But she stopped short of saying Australia supported South ­Africa’s case.

“Our support for the ICJ and respect for its independence does not mean we accept the premise of South Africa’s case,” Senator Wong told The Australian. “We will continue to work for a just and enduring peace. I would note, Australia is not currently a party to the case, and that at this stage the ICJ has not invited international (submissions).”

But Mr Safadi told The Australian the attacks by Hamas on October 7 did not “happen in a vacuum” and “there was a context”. “I don’t see why Israel has a problem with South Africa going to the court,” he said. “That’s what courts are for – and those who don’t want to go to court are ­usually those who have something to hide and don’t want to face justice.”

Senator Wong made the comments at the start of a Middle East tour as she faces a backlash from Australian Jewish leaders over her decision not to visit the sites of Hamas’s October 7 massacres. She was to fly to Israel for two days of talks in Jerusalem after meetings in Amman.

Senator Wong also announced a $21m aid package to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider regional refugee crisis. More than $11m will go towards refugee programs in Lebanon and Jordan, with $6m to the UN Relief and Works Agency and $4m to the Red Cross/Red Crescent respectively to help with their work in Gaza.

“Australia is gravely concerned by the worsening crisis in Gaza,” Senator Wong said. “(The government) continues to call for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations, and further humanitarian pauses to enable the scaled-up delivery of aid, safe passage for civilians and the release of hostages.”

Under fire from the Jewish community and the federal opposition, Anthony Albanese defended Senator Wong over her decision not to visit the Israeli towns and cities targeted by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

“The fact is that a range of foreign ministers, including the foreign minister of Canada and other countries, did not visit the kibbutzes when they visited Israel,” he said. “Penny Wong is visiting Israel to speak to family and friends of the hostages – those people who have been released, but also the families who quite rightly want their loved ones released.”

Earlier, Mr Albanese appeared to downplay the significance of ­visiting the sites altogether, saying he was surprised the matter had even been raised and adding: “It’s not about … a photo op.”

Senator Wong’s meeting with Mr Safadi followed a call with UN humanitarian co-ordinator Sigrid Kaan and a briefing at a UN Relief and Works Agency health clinic. The Foreign Minister was also scheduled to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

Her meeting with Mr Safadi came within days of him blaming Israel for the violence occurring on the Red Sea and for risking a wider military conflict in the Middle East. He said the loss of life in Gaza was a catalyst for these broader tensions and that Israel’s “violations of international law” have “exceeded all the human, legal and moral limits”. “The Israeli aggression on Gaza and its continued committing of war crimes against the Palestinian people and violating international law with impunity are responsible for the rising tensions witnessed in the region,” he said this month.

Casualty figures released by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry place the civilian death toll in the territory at nearly 24,000, although that number doesn’t distinguish between Hamas militants and non-combatants, nor does it account for those killed by misfired Hamas rockets, such as that which fatally wounded dozens at Gaza’s Al-Ahli hospital in October.

Jordan is a fervent supporter of South Africa’s claim against Israel accusing it of genocide, a case rejected by the United States and the United Kingdom; Five Eyes partner Canada has also signalled that it does not support the claim. Mr Albanese on Tuesday said Australia would not become a formal participant in the proceedings.

Prior to leaving Australia, Senator Wong emphasised that issues of humanitarian assistance, the upholding of international law, the greater protection of civilians and avoiding regional escalation would be her priorities during the week-long mission.

Senator Wong’s arrival in Israel is expected to include meetings with her counterpart Israel Katz, President Isaac Herzog, and with former prime minister turned opposition leader Yair Lapid.

Instead of travelling to Israel’s south, the Foreign Minister is slated to meet with survivors of the attacks, family members of those held hostage, and she will also lay a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust remembrance centre.

Jewish leaders contend that the Foreign Minister won’t receive a full appreciation of Israel’s military and psychic position on Hamas without witnessing first-hand what occurred on October 7.

Additional reporting: Jess Malcolm