Penny Wong backs statement blasting Israel over Gaza aid
Penny Wong has joined 22 international counterparts to demand Israel allow full resumption of aid in Gaza, warning Palestinians there are starving and being deprived of essential supplies.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has joined 22 international counterparts to demand Israel allow the full resumption of aid in Gaza, warning that Palestinians there are starving, exhausted and being deprived of essential supplies.
Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and a raft of European nations condemned Israel’s halt to aid delivery in the war-torn territory and rejected its plan to take over humanitarian support for the enclave’s 2.1 million people.
The move came as Israel allowed just five trucks carrying humanitarian aid into Gaza following an 11-week blockade.
“Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months,” the ministers said in a joint statement. “Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said food deliveries would continue only until the Israeli military and private companies had set up hubs inside the territory to distribute aid under a US-backed plan that has been rejected by the UN.
The 23-nation statement, which was placed on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ website without fanfare, said only the UN and humanitarian NGOs, “operating independently, with neutrality, impartiality and humanity”, were equipped to deliver assistance to Gaza.
“(The model) places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives,” it said.
The foreign ministers said aid should not be “politicised” and warned against an Israeli push to depopulate Gaza and seize parts of the territory.
“As humanitarian donors, we have two straightforward messages for the government of Israel: allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity,” they said.
“We remain committed to meeting the acute needs we see in Gaza. We also reiterate our firm message that Hamas must immediately release all remaining hostages and allow humanitarian assistance to be distributed without interference.
“It is our firm conviction that an immediate return to a ceasefire and working towards the implementation of a two-state solution are the only way to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability for the whole region.”
In a video statement, Mr Netanyahu said he had blocked aid deliveries via the UN and other organisations because the supplies were being seized by Hamas, and he was now pursuing a “different method” involving a US-backed non-governmental organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the joint statement was well-intentioned but failed to address a critical issue: “What measures will be taken to prevent food, medicines and essential supplies from continuing to be stolen by Hamas and other terrorist groups?”
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network welcomed the statement, but questioned why the government failed to back a harder-line position adopted by the UK, France and Canada threatening “concrete actions” against Israel, including sanctions.
“Why has Australia suddenly gone missing at this critical moment, when these same partners are stepping up to condemn Israel’s brazen violations of law and signal concrete consequences?” APAN president Nasser Mashni said.
Aside from Australia, the UK, Canada and New Zealand, the joint statement was backed by Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
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