Back-room silence a sign of Labor shift on Israel
Emotions ran high as Labor Friends of Palestine urged their comrades to support calls for the federal government to end all military ties with Israel and extend sanctions to the entire Netanyahu government.
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West Australian
23 minutes ago
- West Australian
Albanese says Netanyahu's military escalation pledge in Gaza helped shape Palestinian statehood call
Anthony Albanese says Benjamin Netanyahu is 'in denial' about the consequences of the war in Gaza on innocent civilians as he defended his government's call to recognise Palestinian statehood. The Prime Minister on Tuesday said Mr Netanyahu's public slamming on Australia's move towards recognition contributed to the speeding up of the announcement, after the PM said a fortnight ago a decision was not imminent. 'Prime Minister Netanyahu made a statement yesterday morning, before we'd made the statement, following on from the discussion that I had with him last Thursday, where I clearly indicated that the discussion and his argument was the same that he was putting a year ago,' Mr Albanese told the ABC. '(During the conversation) he again reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well, which is to be in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people.' But Shadow foreign Minister Michaelia Cash slammed the move move towards recognition of statehood without conditions while Hamas still controls land in the region, saying it was 'reckless' and would 'embolden Hamas'. 'This is now unconditional recognition. That is an outrageous position to be in,' she told Sky on Tuesday. 'But more than that, it does nothing to change the situation on the ground for the Palestinian people. 'Recognising a Palestinian state does nothing more and nothing less than embolden Hamas. 'Hamas doesn't care. International law doesn't apply to terrorists. It butchered and slaughtered 1200 Israelis and it took hostages, many of whom remain in the tunnels today. 'Hamas must be removed from controlling the Gaza strip.' Mr Albanese later told reporters in Melbourne that his reasons for the announcement also included Israel's blocking aid in Gaza and the deaths of people from starvation or while searching for food. Other contributing factors he said included growing international momentum, the loss of life, harrowing scenes of starvation, and assurances from the Palestinian Authority - including that Hamas would not play a role in future governance. 'The commitments from the Palestinian Authority have been important,' Mr Albanese said. 'The declarations by other countries means that there is momentum towards a two-state solution and towards the international community making that position clear. 'The other thing that is occurring is, of course, the decision by the Israeli Government to double down on its military. The Netanyahu Government, with the decision that they've made to go in and to occupy Gaza City. 'We have seen too many innocent lives being lost.' He said international allies wanted a 'breakthrough' to end the Gaza conflict and Australia wanted to be a part of the push for peace. 'We remain very much committed to two states.' Liberal Senator James Paterson labelled Mr Albanese's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood as a 'historic mistake' and that Mr Albanese was 'naive' to believe the Palestinian Authority would implement meaningful reform. 'They've had 20 years to make these reforms, and they haven't done so. Why they would turn around and do these reforms after countries like Australia have promised to recognise them? (It) defies belief,' he said. Senator Paterson also accused the PM of 'trashing Australia's foreign policy record' to appease Labor's left flank. 'This is a desperate act of domestic politics,' he said. 'He has given in to the pressure ... to make a decision that departs from 30 years of bipartisan precedent. 'He's trashed our foreign policy record, including with our closest allies, and all for nothing but a desperate domestic political gain.' Shadow home affairs minister Andrew Hastie echoed his Liberal colleagues' criticisms, warning it would 'diminish a close democratic ally in Israel', embolden Hamas and would send 'the wrong message to terrorist groups all around the world'. 'This bloodshed is ultimately owned by Hamas. That's why any plan going forward for statehood must have very clear conditions on removing Hamas from power, demilitarising and then normalising relations between the Israeli and the Palestinian people,' he said.
Daily Telegraph
42 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Israel's deadly strike on Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza condemned
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The deaths of five journalists by an Israeli airstrike near a hospital in Gaza has ignited global fury, as hundreds of Palestinians carried their bodies through the streets of the city. Prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues – correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa – were killed in the strike on a tent for journalists outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Sunday. Hospital director Mohammed Abu Salmiya said a sixth journalist, freelance reporter Mohammed al-Khaldi, was also killed in the assault. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) admitted it had targeted Sharif, claiming he was a 'terrorist' affiliated with Hamas who 'posed as a journalist' – an allegation previously refuted by Sharif, the Qatari broadcaster and UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan as baseless. The military released documents alleging to show the date of Sharif's enlistment with Hamas in 2013, an injury report from 2017 and the name of his unit and rank. Describing Sharif as 'one of Gaza's bravest journalists', Al Jazeera led condemnations of the attack, 'a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza'. 'Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world,' it said. Al Jazeera's Gaza correspondent, Anas al-Sharif, was killed along with four colleagues in an Israeli strike on Sunday. Picture: Al Jazeera via AP According to local journalists who knew him, Sharif had worked at the start of his career with a Hamas communication office, where his role was to publicise events organised by the group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2006. The 28-year-old was one of Al Jazeera's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports on the now 22-month-old war. A posthumous message, written by Sharif in April in case of his death, was published on his X account on Monday. 'If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice,' Sharif wrote, urging people 'not to forget Gaza'. 'I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification.' Palestinians carry the body of Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Qreiqeh, one of five Al Jazeera staff members killed in a targeted Israeli drone strike, during his funeral outside Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital complex. Picture: AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi Palestinians pray over the bodies of the five Al Jazeera journalists. Picture: AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi 'It is a war crime' Dozens of Gazans stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of the hospital on Monday to pay their respects to the reporters. Mourners – including men wearing blue journalists' flak jackets – carried their bodies, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, through Gaza City's narrow alleys to their graves. Media freedom groups – including Australia's journalists' union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) – spoke out against the attack, which the United Nations human rights agency called a 'grave breach of international humanitarian law'. 'Israel's pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for freedom,' the Committee to Protect Journalists' (CPJ) director for the Middle East and North Africa, Sara Qudah, said. Colleagues and friends mourn over the body of Mohamed Qureiqa. Picture: Bashar Taleb/AFP The CPJ had called for Sharif's protection in July following online posts by an Israeli military spokesperson. 'International law is clear that active combatants are the only justified targets in a war setting,' CPJ's chief executive, Jodie Ginsberg, told AFP on Monday. Unless Israel 'can demonstrate that Anas al-Sharif was still an active combatant, then there is no justification for his killing'. In its own statement, the MEAA said the deaths were the culmination of 'a long smear campaign of unsubstantiated allegations against al-Sharif and other journalists'. 'As Al Jazeera has said, this was a 'dangerous attempt to justify the targeting of journalists in the field',' the MEAA said. 'Tragically, these warnings have now come to fruition. The targets of journalists is a blatant attack on press freedom, and it is also a war crime. It must stop.' Palestinians check the destroyed Al Jazeera tent at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Picture: Bashar Taleb/AFP Reporters Without Borders said nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war, which was sparked by Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel prevents international reporters from entering Gaza, except on occasional tightly-controlled trips with the military. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government is 'gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza'. 'Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law and journalists must be able to report independently without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely,' they said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for 'an independent and impartial investigation into these latest killings'. 'Journalists and media workers must be respected, they must be protected and they must be allowed to carry out their work freely, free from fear and free from harassment,' his spokesperson said. Originally published as Israel's deadly strike on Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza condemned
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Albanese attacks ‘in-denial' Netanyahu, signals criticism drove him to Palestinian recognition
Anthony Albanese has delivered a stunning attack on Benjamin Netanyahu, in the clearest indication yet of his tense relationship with Israel's PM. Updated less than a minute ago Welcome to The Australian's rolling coverage of news from Canberra and around the country. Commentary Offering official recognition to a Palestinian state is not really concerned with the politics of Gaza City and Ramallah but with Marrickville and Liverpool, Northcote and Broadmeadows. Education The government should develop a single online national platform of AI lesson plans to take pressure off teachers and ensure students in less affluent areas don't fall behind.
