Andrew Hastie says Israel needs to state its ‘end game' after confirming plans to take over Gaza City, contradicts Michaelia Cash
The opposing comments between senior Coalition members indicates a fissure in the opposition's response to the war, which threatens to escalate following the Israeli Security Cabinet's approval of plans to attack Gaza City.
Prior to this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had indicated his desire to take over the entire Gaza Strip following the Israeli Defence Force's 22-month military offensive in the region.
While Mr Hastie, who is a former SAS commander and the Coalition's home affairs spokesman, supported Israel's 'right to self-defence,' and said Israeli hostages needed to be released, he also questioned: 'What end game will Israel achieve by sending an occupation force in?'
Speaking to the ABC, he said Gaza had already been 'largely destroyed' and reduced to 'rubble', and noted that the 'urban combat' nature of the attack would also result in the deaths of IDF soldiers.
'Not only, potentially, would you see more violence, you would see more IDF body bags going back to Israel as well,' he said.
'What would such an occupation achieve? I think that's a good question to ask Israel.'
Speaking about the 'humanitarian crisis in Gaza', Mr Hastie suggested the creation of a new settlement to ensure 'peace and a level of security for both sides'.
'I'm a student of Biblical history as well. Both parties have been pounding it out in the desert for the last 3500 years,' he said.
'We need to be realistic about what we can achieve in terms of a lasting peace solution.
'We need a new settlement, a new political reality that allows people on both sides to live in peace, within reason.'
Earlier, Senator Cash criticised the government's call for Israel not to proceed with its offence on Gaza, and said the 'operational tactics and the way this war is conducted on the ground … is a matter for the Israeli government'.
However, she accused Hamas of refusing to 'properly participate in the peace negotiations,' adding that the 'Israelis are in the situation today because Hamas started this war'.
Senator Cash also accused Labor for being weak on its position that Hamas could end the war by releasing the Israeli hostages captured on October 7.
'I think what disturbs me more than anything is that so many now, but in particular Penny Wong number one as the offender, they skip over this important detail. This war could end tomorrow if Hamas released the hostages and laid down their arms,' she told Sky.
Senator Cash's comments were in response to Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who urged Israel 'not to go down this path,' warning that its plans to create the 'permanent forced displacement' of Gazans could amount a 'violation of international law'.
'Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,' she said in a statement issued on Friday.
'With international partners, Australia maintains our call for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and aid to flow unimpeded.
'A two-state solution is the only pathway to secure an enduring peace – a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security within internationally-recognised borders.'
This comes as Anthony Albanese is considering whether Australia will join western allies, including Canada, the UK and France in officially recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
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On Sunday, several groups are scheduled to march through central London to demand the safe release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
