Germany freezes military supplies to Israel over Gaza operation plans
Germany has provided around $866 million worth of military equipment to Israel between October 2023 and May 2025.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a statement, while he acknowledges Israel's right to disarm Hamas, civilian suffering cannot be ignored.
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Perth Now
2 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Stronger Gaza rhetoric ahead of Palestine recognition
Prime Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will formally recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The recognition of statehood comes after increasingly stronger language by the federal government against Israel for blocking aid and breaching international law since the war started on October 7, 2023, after designated terror group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. PALESTINE * October 26, 2023: "We continue to support Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own and consider a two-state solution". * January 16, 2025: "We hope (a ceasefire) will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance and pursue self-determination". * July 25, 2025: "The reason a two-state solution remains the goal of the international community is because a just and lasting peace depends upon it". * July 31, 2025: "Recognition of the state of Palestine is a matter of when - not if". * August 4, 2025: "Everybody understands that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise unless the international community work together towards two states". * August 11, 2025: "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority". AID * December 13, 2023: "Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be increased and sustained". * July 26, 2024: "Sustained increase in the flow of assistance throughout Gaza is needed to address the humanitarian situation". * July 25, 2025: "Israel's denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored". * July 27, 2025: "Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March. It's a breach of decent humanity and of morality, and everyone can see that." CIVILIANS * October 26, 2023: "We are concerned at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and call on all actors to ensure the provision of humanitarian supplies to populations in need". * December 13, 2023: "Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected ... the price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians". * February 15, 2024: "With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge Israel not to go down this path". * July 26, 2024: "The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue". * July 25, 2025: "Every innocent life matters. Every Israeli. Every Palestinian". * August 11, 2025: "The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears. Far too many innocent lives have been lost." CEASEFIRE * October 26, 2023: "We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages". * December 13, 2023: "Support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire ... Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms". *January 16, 2025: "Australia welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza ... We urge all parties to respect its terms and safeguard a lasting peace". * July 25, 2025: "An immediate ceasefire is needed desperately". * August 11, 2025: "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza".
The Advertiser
32 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'Humanity's best hope': Australia recognises Palestine
Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive. Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive. Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive. Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive.
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Immigration Minister hit with ‘gaslighting' claim after Mona Zahed debacle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The country's border chief has been accused of 'gaslighting' after downplaying concerns that immigration officials granted a visa to a Hamas sympathiser. Immigration Minister Tony Burke revealed on Sunday that Mona Zahed, who publicly supported Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023, was granted a visa that she was ineligible for. Ms Zahed applied to come to Australia on an entertainment visa rather than a humanitarian option. Senior immigration officials noticed the error after they were alerted to social media posts Ms Zahed made celebrating the October 7 attacks. Due to the wrong visa type, Mr Burke said her application was cancelled 'before we even got to character grounds'. But 2GB host Ben Fordham on Monday blasted Mr Burke's explanation as 'tied up in a whole lot of spin to make it sound like everything's under control'. He told listeners that the minister 'tried to convince everyone that it was a giant misunderstanding'. Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke has been accused of 'gaslighting'. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman 'Tony Burke is trying to say there's no problem here, but the problem is, Mr Burke's so-called checks and double-checks didn't stop Mona Zahed from being granted an Australian visa,' Fordham said. Citing reporting, including from NewsWire, Fordham said it did not matter that Ms Zahed was given the wrong visa, but that officials only learnt of her views because of media coverage. 'What is Tony Burke on?' he said. 'Mona Zahed was given an Australian visa – we don't care what type of visa it was. 'Her past support and praise of Hamas did not raise red flags when Australia was checking her application – she was given the visa. 'The only reason the (Department of Home Affairs) found out that there was an issue was because a story appeared in the Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne. 'Nobody in authority had any idea, and now Tony Burke tries to reassure us that the system is safe because this woman filled out the wrong form. 'No, minister, you were ready to let her in.' As both home affairs and immigration minister, Mr Burke has oversight of Australia's security agencies and borders, making him one of the most powerful members of Anthony Albanese's cabinet. It also means he controls who enters Australia and is responsible for those vetting visitors. 'Unusual' In comments on Sunday, Mr Burke said Ms Zahed 'wasn't eligible for the visa that had been issued and the department administratively cancelled the visa', calling the application 'unusual'. 'This was someone from Gaza who was not going through the humanitarian visa process that we've got in place, or even for a visitor visa for that matter, but who'd applied on the entertainment stream, where the presumption of that visa is you are coming for a fixed tour, where the tickets are being sold, the dates are all in place, and your intention is then to return to the country you came from,' he told Sky News. 'Now, you can see a few reasons there why as soon as it was brought to … the attention of people more senior in the department, they looked at it and thought, 'Hang on, this individual is not eligible for this particular visa'.' As for the thousands of Palestinians who have been granted visas since the start of the war in Gaza, Mr Burke insisted all approved had been double-checked. He also said only 'about half the people … for whom visas had been issued ended up actually getting here' because of border closures. The figure is unclear, but human rights groups have put it at about 1300. Palestinian woman Mona Zahed thanked Allah after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel in 2023. Picture: Facebook Ms Zahed's visa has been cancelled. Picture: Facebook 'We would have had something in the order of close to 1000 visas where people were trapped in Gaza,' Mr Burke said, adding that those stuck in Gaza had dropped to 'not too much more' than half of that. 'Now some of that will be that people decided they didn't want to come to Australia, some of it will be people (who) found another pathway out of Gaza, some of it will be that those people are no longer alive. 'There's a few different reasons for the reduction in numbers. 'Overwhelmingly now the people who are in that visa group, they had the initial check against the movement alert list. 'We've had (the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) go through everybody on the list twice now, and so they are in fact the most highly checked cohort that we've ever had.' Mr Burke pointed out they 'are still in a situation where overwhelmingly, they're not able to leave'. Ms Zahed has been living in tents with her young family for much of the 22-month war in Gaza – a conflict triggered by Hamas' October 7 attacks. The militant group killed more than 1200 in the unprecedented assault, including whole families. Fighters took hundreds more hostage as they retreated into Gaza, where dozens remain captive. The Herald Sun revealed on Friday that Ms Zahed praised the attack on social media at the time. 'We woke up and got God's kingdom,' she wrote of the worst loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. She made her visa application with the support of Melbourne artist Matt Chun, who claims to have raised tens of thousands of dollars to help Ms Zahed, her husband and four children make their way to Australia. Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia and the Albanese government has repeatedly condemned the October 7 attacks. Originally published as Immigration Minister hit with 'gaslighting' claim after Mona Zahed debacle
