Albanese slams Israel's denial of starvation in Gaza
The prime minister was responding to statements made by his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia, during a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday.
"While there is a caveat on any health information which is provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented journalists from getting in," he told the meeting in Canberra.
It comes after Mr Albanese on Friday declared Israel's retaliation in Gaza following the October 7 attack on the nation state by Hamas had "gone beyond the world's worst fears".
Then on Sunday, he warned Israel had "quite clearly" breached international law by limiting food deliveries to starving civilians in Gaza, escalating his criticism of the Jewish state.
The prime minister spoke of his emotional response to images of gaunt and dying children in the Palestinian territory, while acknowledging increased airdrops of aid by Israel was "a start".
"It just breaks your heart," he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.
Overnight on Monday, US President Donald Trump contradicted the Israeli prime minister by stating many people were starving in the Gaza Strip and suggested more could be done to improve humanitarian access.
Mr Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza ..."
Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia Amir Meron told journalists on Monday "we don't recognise any famine or any starvation in the Gaza Strip".
The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities.
While air drops of aid have been carried out into Gaza, humanitarian agencies say they aren't enough to deal with worsening levels of starvation in the area.
At the caucus meeting, Mr Albanese was also asked about Palestinian statehood.
He referenced a Nelson Mandela quote, saying "it always seems impossible until it's done".
The prime minister has previously said any resolution on the issue would need to guarantee that Hamas, the de facto ruling authority in Gaza, which Australia has designated a terrorist group, plays no part in the future nation.
There would also need to be agreements on the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank, and a resolution of issues over the expansion of Israeli settlements.
Recognition of Palestinian statehood has been part of Labor's national platform since 2018.
Labor is facing intensifying pressure to follow France in recognising a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.
The Greens are calling on the government to impose the same sanctions on Israel as it had done so for Russia.
The minor party is also seeking a ban on buying items that can help fund the war, pointing to sanctions on pearls and truffles for Russia.
Anthony Albanese has strongly rejected Israel's claims that there's no starvation in Gaza as "beyond comprehension".
The prime minister was responding to statements made by his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia, during a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday.
"While there is a caveat on any health information which is provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented journalists from getting in," he told the meeting in Canberra.
It comes after Mr Albanese on Friday declared Israel's retaliation in Gaza following the October 7 attack on the nation state by Hamas had "gone beyond the world's worst fears".
Then on Sunday, he warned Israel had "quite clearly" breached international law by limiting food deliveries to starving civilians in Gaza, escalating his criticism of the Jewish state.
The prime minister spoke of his emotional response to images of gaunt and dying children in the Palestinian territory, while acknowledging increased airdrops of aid by Israel was "a start".
"It just breaks your heart," he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.
Overnight on Monday, US President Donald Trump contradicted the Israeli prime minister by stating many people were starving in the Gaza Strip and suggested more could be done to improve humanitarian access.
Mr Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza ..."
Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia Amir Meron told journalists on Monday "we don't recognise any famine or any starvation in the Gaza Strip".
The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities.
While air drops of aid have been carried out into Gaza, humanitarian agencies say they aren't enough to deal with worsening levels of starvation in the area.
At the caucus meeting, Mr Albanese was also asked about Palestinian statehood.
He referenced a Nelson Mandela quote, saying "it always seems impossible until it's done".
The prime minister has previously said any resolution on the issue would need to guarantee that Hamas, the de facto ruling authority in Gaza, which Australia has designated a terrorist group, plays no part in the future nation.
There would also need to be agreements on the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank, and a resolution of issues over the expansion of Israeli settlements.
Recognition of Palestinian statehood has been part of Labor's national platform since 2018.
Labor is facing intensifying pressure to follow France in recognising a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.
The Greens are calling on the government to impose the same sanctions on Israel as it had done so for Russia.
The minor party is also seeking a ban on buying items that can help fund the war, pointing to sanctions on pearls and truffles for Russia.
Anthony Albanese has strongly rejected Israel's claims that there's no starvation in Gaza as "beyond comprehension".
The prime minister was responding to statements made by his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia, during a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday.
"While there is a caveat on any health information which is provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented journalists from getting in," he told the meeting in Canberra.
It comes after Mr Albanese on Friday declared Israel's retaliation in Gaza following the October 7 attack on the nation state by Hamas had "gone beyond the world's worst fears".
Then on Sunday, he warned Israel had "quite clearly" breached international law by limiting food deliveries to starving civilians in Gaza, escalating his criticism of the Jewish state.
The prime minister spoke of his emotional response to images of gaunt and dying children in the Palestinian territory, while acknowledging increased airdrops of aid by Israel was "a start".
"It just breaks your heart," he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.
Overnight on Monday, US President Donald Trump contradicted the Israeli prime minister by stating many people were starving in the Gaza Strip and suggested more could be done to improve humanitarian access.
Mr Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza ..."
Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia Amir Meron told journalists on Monday "we don't recognise any famine or any starvation in the Gaza Strip".
The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities.
While air drops of aid have been carried out into Gaza, humanitarian agencies say they aren't enough to deal with worsening levels of starvation in the area.
At the caucus meeting, Mr Albanese was also asked about Palestinian statehood.
He referenced a Nelson Mandela quote, saying "it always seems impossible until it's done".
The prime minister has previously said any resolution on the issue would need to guarantee that Hamas, the de facto ruling authority in Gaza, which Australia has designated a terrorist group, plays no part in the future nation.
There would also need to be agreements on the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank, and a resolution of issues over the expansion of Israeli settlements.
Recognition of Palestinian statehood has been part of Labor's national platform since 2018.
Labor is facing intensifying pressure to follow France in recognising a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.
The Greens are calling on the government to impose the same sanctions on Israel as it had done so for Russia.
The minor party is also seeking a ban on buying items that can help fund the war, pointing to sanctions on pearls and truffles for Russia.
Anthony Albanese has strongly rejected Israel's claims that there's no starvation in Gaza as "beyond comprehension".
The prime minister was responding to statements made by his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia, during a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday.
"While there is a caveat on any health information which is provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented journalists from getting in," he told the meeting in Canberra.
It comes after Mr Albanese on Friday declared Israel's retaliation in Gaza following the October 7 attack on the nation state by Hamas had "gone beyond the world's worst fears".
Then on Sunday, he warned Israel had "quite clearly" breached international law by limiting food deliveries to starving civilians in Gaza, escalating his criticism of the Jewish state.
The prime minister spoke of his emotional response to images of gaunt and dying children in the Palestinian territory, while acknowledging increased airdrops of aid by Israel was "a start".
"It just breaks your heart," he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.
Overnight on Monday, US President Donald Trump contradicted the Israeli prime minister by stating many people were starving in the Gaza Strip and suggested more could be done to improve humanitarian access.
Mr Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza ..."
Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia Amir Meron told journalists on Monday "we don't recognise any famine or any starvation in the Gaza Strip".
The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities.
While air drops of aid have been carried out into Gaza, humanitarian agencies say they aren't enough to deal with worsening levels of starvation in the area.
At the caucus meeting, Mr Albanese was also asked about Palestinian statehood.
He referenced a Nelson Mandela quote, saying "it always seems impossible until it's done".
The prime minister has previously said any resolution on the issue would need to guarantee that Hamas, the de facto ruling authority in Gaza, which Australia has designated a terrorist group, plays no part in the future nation.
There would also need to be agreements on the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank, and a resolution of issues over the expansion of Israeli settlements.
Recognition of Palestinian statehood has been part of Labor's national platform since 2018.
Labor is facing intensifying pressure to follow France in recognising a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.
The Greens are calling on the government to impose the same sanctions on Israel as it had done so for Russia.
The minor party is also seeking a ban on buying items that can help fund the war, pointing to sanctions on pearls and truffles for Russia.
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During his address, Mr Marles thanked the crowd for helping secure a thumping federal election win and increased seats in Victoria, while Ms Allan's speech was firmly focused on the 2026 state election. She promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among the federal MPs to join state colleagues, party members and union officials at the gathering. A coalition of several dozen activists marched the area outside the racecourse, opposing the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Police were on standby and security was heightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps used to shield public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan. Mr Albanese didn't attend in person this year, instead heading to the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. Victorian Labor has voted to act against "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine and suspend Australia's participation in the three-nation AUKUS defence agreement. While non-binding on the state or federal government, the grassroots motions passed at the party's state conference in Melbourne on Saturday highlight tensions on international policy within the Labor movement. Two successful AUKUS motions included calling for an inquiry into the defence agreement, suspending Australia's participation in it and urging a federal government review into its ongoing participation. The vote to "act against military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine was passed with strong support and to a standing ovation from some members of the Moonee Valley Racecourse audience after unsuccessful amendments to change the wording. The motion called for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, comprehensive sanctions on members of Israel's Netanyahu government and improved military trade transparency and tracking laws. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria's policy was to follow the federal government and stressed the importance of a strong defence industry for national protection. Friction within the party over the Middle East flared earlier in the day when a handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, which involved them holding up images of Palestinian flags on phones and devices. During his address, Mr Marles thanked the crowd for helping secure a thumping federal election win and increased seats in Victoria, while Ms Allan's speech was firmly focused on the 2026 state election. She promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among the federal MPs to join state colleagues, party members and union officials at the gathering. A coalition of several dozen activists marched the area outside the racecourse, opposing the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Police were on standby and security was heightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps used to shield public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan. Mr Albanese didn't attend in person this year, instead heading to the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land.
