Push to sanction Israel as 'inhumane killing' decried
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Albanese government wants the Gaza war to end now. So do most Israelis
The Albanese government wants the war in Gaza to end immediately. So do the vast majority of Israelis, not that you'd necessarily know that from Australia's tribal and often frustratingly simplistic domestic political debate. Australia and 27 other countries this week signed a joint statement arguing that 'the war in Gaza must end now' and condemning the Netanyahu government's aid delivery model. Israel's foreign ministry and ambassador to Australia criticised the statement, as did the Coalition and local pro-Israel groups. 'All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it,' the Israeli foreign ministry said. In Israel itself, however, the idea that the war has gone on for far too long is utterly mainstream. As is the idea that the Netanyahu government bears at least partial responsibility for the failure to bring it to an end. A poll last week released this month by Israel's highest-rating television network, Channel 12, found that three quarters of Israelis want the war to end in exchange for a deal that would release all the remaining hostages at once. This included 60 per cent of people who voted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative coalition. A majority of Israeli voters said that Netanyahu's handling of the war has been bad, and 49 per cent believe he is resisting a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal for political reasons. These findings reflect repeated polls over many months showing most Israelis are fed up with the war in Gaza. Similarly, during a reporting trip to Israel last month, photographer Kate Geraghty and I found a pervasive fatigue with the war and an overwhelming desire to secure a hostage release deal. 'Finish it, it's enough,' car salesman and passionate Netanyahu supporter Ronen Sha'a Shua told us, reflecting a common sentiment. 'We can't move on until our hostages come back.' Loading Asked about the joint statement signed by Australia, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the 'most important' thing was rescuing the 50 hostages that remain in Gaza, of whom around 20 are believed to be alive. Most Israelis agree. Crucially, though, they believe that the war is hindering rather than helping secure the release of the hostages. The most passionate Israeli advocates for ending the war are the family members of the remaining hostages in Gaza. Many of these relatives are also fierce critics of Netanyahu, whom they believe has made the release of their loved ones a low priority and has continued the war to placate the far-right members of his governing coalition. Convinced that lobbying the Netanyahu government is an almost futile effort, many have turned to pleading with US President Donald Trump to secure the release of the hostages.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
The Albanese government wants the Gaza war to end now. So do most Israelis
The Albanese government wants the war in Gaza to end immediately. So do the vast majority of Israelis, not that you'd necessarily know that from Australia's tribal and often frustratingly simplistic domestic political debate. Australia and 27 other countries this week signed a joint statement arguing that 'the war in Gaza must end now' and condemning the Netanyahu government's aid delivery model. Israel's foreign ministry and ambassador to Australia criticised the statement, as did the Coalition and local pro-Israel groups. 'All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it,' the Israeli foreign ministry said. In Israel itself, however, the idea that the war has gone on for far too long is utterly mainstream. As is the idea that the Netanyahu government bears at least partial responsibility for the failure to bring it to an end. A poll last week released this month by Israel's highest-rating television network, Channel 12, found that three quarters of Israelis want the war to end in exchange for a deal that would release all the remaining hostages at once. This included 60 per cent of people who voted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative coalition. A majority of Israeli voters said that Netanyahu's handling of the war has been bad, and 49 per cent believe he is resisting a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal for political reasons. These findings reflect repeated polls over many months showing most Israelis are fed up with the war in Gaza. Similarly, during a reporting trip to Israel last month, photographer Kate Geraghty and I found a pervasive fatigue with the war and an overwhelming desire to secure a hostage release deal. 'Finish it, it's enough,' car salesman and passionate Netanyahu supporter Ronen Sha'a Shua told us, reflecting a common sentiment. 'We can't move on until our hostages come back.' Loading Asked about the joint statement signed by Australia, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the 'most important' thing was rescuing the 50 hostages that remain in Gaza, of whom around 20 are believed to be alive. Most Israelis agree. Crucially, though, they believe that the war is hindering rather than helping secure the release of the hostages. The most passionate Israeli advocates for ending the war are the family members of the remaining hostages in Gaza. Many of these relatives are also fierce critics of Netanyahu, whom they believe has made the release of their loved ones a low priority and has continued the war to placate the far-right members of his governing coalition. Convinced that lobbying the Netanyahu government is an almost futile effort, many have turned to pleading with US President Donald Trump to secure the release of the hostages.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Police warn against violence as Trump prepares to tour his Scottish golf courses
'I'd be really clear, however, that abusive, threatening behaviour, any activity that's intended to disrupt events or in any way that poses a risk to public safety, is not legitimate protest and will potentially require an intervention by policing.' Protesters held large rallies against Trump when he visited in July 2018 and one paraglider flew over a no-fly zone at one of his golf courses with a banner that read: 'Trump: well below par'. The police plan, called Operation Roll, is estimated to require 5000 officers to be on duty over the five days, with some coming from Northern Ireland. Public protests against the war in Gaza have intensified in Britain in recent weeks amid global concern about Israeli forces killing Palestinians trying to get food at aid distribution points. Australia this week joined a coalition of 28 nations calling for an immediate end to the war and condemning Israel over the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians seeking aid. The British parliament voted to proscribe Palestine Action on July 2 after the government decided it should be branded a terrorist group, after members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged aircraft. 'Any support for Palestine Action, be that in terms of clothes worn, be that in terms of banners held, is now an offence under the Terrorism Act and people are liable to arrest for those offences,' Bond said. The assistant chief constable suggested wearing a shirt declaring support for Palestine Action could meet the threshold for an arrest. Loading Trump will open a new 18-hole golf course during his visit at his existing resort on the North Sea coast at Menie, north of Aberdeen. The course will be named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's north-west. While the coming visit is personal rather than official business, the president will be backed by the usual security detail and will be flown between the two properties on Marine One, the presidential helicopter. The state visit in September will include a ceremonial welcome and a state dinner at Windsor Castle, where Trump and his wife, Melania, will stay as guests of King Charles.
