Benjamin Netanyahu unloads on Australia and brands country with single brutal word - as Anthony Albanese weighs in on Gaza war
Netanyahu's comments came after Israel was criticised at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sunday - just two days after announcing a plan to widen its military offensive.
The plan to take 'full military control' would mean Israeli forces would eventually run the whole Gaza Strip including the heart of Gaza City in Palestine's occupied territory.
Albanese used a trip to New Zealand to speak out against Israeli troops entering Gaza and extending the conflict in the Middle East.
'The idea that it can just be continued is completely unacceptable,' Albanese said.
In a joint statement with the New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Albanese added: 'Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip.'
Australia and New Zealand are part of an international push against a large-scale military operation in Gaza.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke labelled the expanding military operation and show of force in Gaza as 'ridiculous'.
'This concept that you're weak against Hamas unless you're cruel against the Palestinian people is a ridiculous proposition,' Burke said.
Opposition Home Affairs spokesperson Andrew Hastie added military occupation in Gaza had never been successful.
'I look at the weight of history Gaza has never been successfully occupied or pacified by Israel so I'm not sure why we think it would be different now,' Hastie said.
In a press conference aimed at telling the truth and 'puncturing lies' about Israel's military and humanitarian action, Netanyahu hit out at country's backing Palestine.
Netanyahu vehemently denied the idea Israel has embarked on a 'starvation policy' and said it was an 'absurdity' to recognise Palestinian statehood.
'It defies imagination or understanding how intelligent people around the world, including seasoned diplomats, government leaders, and respected journalists, fall for this absurdity,' he said.
Netanyahu called out Australia, claiming a Palestinian statehood would bring war rather than peace.
'To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that is disappointing, and I think it's actually shameful,' he said.
The Albanese government, like many of Australia's allies, seem destined to announce formal recognition of Palestine in the coming weeks.
Australia's recognition of Palestine is dependent on Hamas removing its presence from Gaza.
The recognition is also contingent on reforming the Palestinian Authority - which is the alternative governing force - and positioning it as the ruler of Gaza, with the commitment that Israel is left in peace.
The Australian government also faced growing pressure from protesters after thousands marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Authorities believed around 90,000 people arrived at the Harbour Bridge on August 4 and took part in the pro-Palestine 'March for Humanity'.
Joshua Lees of the Palestine Action Group, which organised the rally, claimed the protest's attendance was up to 300,000 people - three times greater than police's early estimate.
Netanyahu's stance comes after Australia participated in yet another joint statement with Britain, Canada, France and other allies in condemning Israel's actions.
In July, Australia was one of 28 countries urging Israel to drastically increase the supply of aid in the Gaza Strip following images of starving children and reports civilians were being shot outside humanitarian depots.
Health officials said that 20 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead on Saturday, and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, as the growing international criticism of Israel came with pleas to allow far more food to reach people in the besieged enclave.
Gaza's Health Ministry said the new adult deaths from malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours brought the total to 114 since it began counting such deaths in June.
It said that 98 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, with militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.
The toll from hunger isn't included in the ministry's death toll of 61,300 Palestinians in the war.
The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, does not distinguish between fighters or civilians, but says around half of the dead have been women and children.
The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties.
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