Arab states call on Hamas to lay down arms and return hostages
'Things are happening there which have the potential to start to at least take the pressure off the horrible events which we are witnessing on a daily basis in Gaza,' Mr Hawker told Sky News Australia.
'Anthony Albanese will want to be part of the solution to those terrible problems.'
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Sky News AU
16 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Anthony Albanese restates support for two-state solution in call with Palestinian leader
Anthony Albanese has restated Australia's support for a two-state solution in a phone call with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas. The call comes amid mounting pressure on the Prime Minister to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) next month. France, the UK and Canada have all conditionally said that they would. Mr Albanese has neither committed to nor ruled out doing so. 'Prime Minister Albanese reiterated Australia's call for the immediate entry of aid to meet the needs of the people of Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and the release of all hostages,' according to a readout of a call with Mr Abbas. 'Prime Minister Albanese also reinforced Australia's commitment to a two-state solution because a just and lasting peace depends upon it. 'President Abbas thanked Prime Minister Albanese for Australia's economic and humanitarian support. 'The leaders discussed deepening co-operation across a range of areas and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.' France was the first major Western country to say it would recognise a Palestinian state at the UNGA. It did so condemning Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023 and saying the Palestinian Islamist group cannot play a role in Gaza. The UK took a similar line, though its pledge to recognise Palestinian statehood was more of a threat to the Israeli government. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would go ahead with recognition if Israel did not loosen its chokehold on aid flowing into Gaza, where the death toll from starvation has climbed to nearly 200, according to local health officials. Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday repeated the Albanese government's condemnation of Hamas and said there was an 'unique opportunity in the international community to isolate and diminish' it while giving life to a Palestinian state. 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation. We consistently condemn them. We have multiple sanctions on them,' she told the ABC. 'When you look at what the Palestinian Authority and the Arab countries have said, condemning Hamas and committing to Hamas having no role in the future of the governance of Gaza.' Senator Wong went on to say the 'best way to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East is for there to be two states'. 'And the reason for … the urgency behind this is that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the world does not act.' Originally published as PM restates support for two-state solution in call with Palestinian leader
7NEWS
21 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Benjamin Netanyahu initiates complete Israeli military takeover of Gaza to pressure Hamas on hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a full military occupation of Gaza, escalating the conflict in the Palestinian territory amid efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages. Mr Netanyahu informed ministers on Monday (Tuesday AEST) that he plans to seek cabinet approval for the move, despite rising opposition from within the Israel Defence Forces and former military leaders, according to reports from The Times of Israel and Hebrew media. A senior official close to Mr Netanyahu told Ynet, 'The die is cast — we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip.' Currently, Israeli forces control approximately 75 per cent of Gaza, but this new order would lead to the takeover of the remaining areas as operations intensify to rescue hostages believed to be held in those locations, reported the Jerusalem Post. The decision reportedly came without consultation with the Israeli military's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, who was told to comply with the directive or resign, according to an internal memo. This military escalation follows disturbing footage released by Hamas and its ally, Islamic Jihad, showing two Israeli hostages in visibly weakened states, deeply shocking Israel. Of the 251 people taken during Hamas's October 2023 assault on Israel, 49 remain captive in Gaza, including 27 who are presumed dead. Footage showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David marking days on a calendar inside a Gaza tunnel confirmed his continued captivity. David, who turned 24 while in captivity, was abducted during the initial Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Senior Israeli officials who discussed the occupation plan alongside Mr Netanyahu believe Hamas will only release the remaining hostages if they are forced to surrender. Channel 12 quoted officials who said, 'If we do not act now, the hostages will die of hunger and Gaza will remain under Hamas control.' US President Donald Trump and Mr Netanyahu are reportedly coordinating to present Hamas with an ultimatum: release the hostages and disarm, or face a sustained Israeli military campaign. This development comes as 19 retired Israeli leaders, including former prime minister and IDF chief Ehud Barak, issued a video appeal over the weekend urging Mr Netanyahu to end the war. They criticised the ongoing campaign, blaming the Prime Minister for prolonging the conflict to maintain his fragile right-wing coalition. 'We are on the precipice of defeat,' said former Mossad director Tamir Pardo, reflecting on the growing international outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 'What the world sees today is of our own creation,' he added, referencing images of starvation and suffering among Gaza's children. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasised that the focus should remain on the hostages at an upcoming United Nations Security Council session. 'The world must put an end to the phenomenon of kidnapping civilians. It must be front and centre on the world stage,' Mr Saar said at a press briefing. 'I will head to New York tonight to participate in a special UN Security Council session that I initiated, taking place tomorrow (Tuesday) on the situation of the hostages,' he added.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Australia co-ordinating on recognition of Palestine
Australia is one step closer to recognising Palestinian statehood and is co-ordinating with other nations on the issue, as the foreign minister warns there might soon be "no Palestine left". Canada, the UK and France have announced plans to recognise the state of Palestine at a United Nations meeting in September, amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Although the federal government has said statehood is a matter of "when, not if", it has been hesitant to set a timeline, with the prime minister previously saying any UN resolution would need to guarantee the designated terror group Hamas played no role in the future nation. Now, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has revealed Australia is working with other countries on recognition to ensure its concerns are met. "We understand the urgency, we also understand the importance of having impact, we are obviously discussing and co-ordinating these issues with many countries," she told Nine's Today show on Tuesday. "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. "We want to ensure work with others to ensure that Hamas has no role in a future Palestinian state, and we do have a unique opportunity at this time with the international community to isolate Hamas." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday morning, when he reiterated Australia's commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East that would allow Palestine and Israel to co-exist. He also stressed the need for the immediate delivery of aid to Gaza, a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages. Mr Abbas thanked Australia for its economic and humanitarian support for Gaza and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting starting on September 9. More than 140 of the 193 UN member states already recognise the state of Palestine, including European Union member states Spain and Ireland. The Australian development comes after significant pro-Palestine protests in capital cities over the weekend, including a 90,000-strong march on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. Australia on Monday also committed another $20 million to humanitarian aid for Gaza, as UN sources found more than two million people in the enclave were facing high levels of food insecurity. Mr Albanese has also requested a call with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. The crisis in Gaza began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's retaliatory response has since killed more than 60,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities. Israel has denied the population is facing, or succumbing to, starvation despite international human rights groups branding its offensive a genocide. Overnight, Gaza's health ministry said the number of people who have died from hunger since the war began has risen to 180, including 93 children. The Australian government has taken issue with the Israeli position. "We believe it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which is the decision Israel made in March," Senator Wong told ABC Radio. Pro-Palestine Australians have called on the government to impose sanctions on Israel similar to those placed on Myanmar and Russia. Senator Wong noted that Australia had sanctioned individuals for human rights abuses against Palestinians. The government would not speculate on sanctions "for the obvious reason they have more effect if they are not flagged". The coalition has reiterated its support for a two-state solution, but Liberal MP Julian Leeser said recognition can only come "at the end of a process". "It's wrong that we're putting recognition on the table at this point because it removes pressure on Hamas, and I think it sends a bad signal to other areas of conflict," he told ABC Radio. "It's very important that we do nothing that encourages Hamas in its activities."
