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The Australian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Australian
Anthony Albanese underlined 'political solution' to civilian catastrophe in Gaza during call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Anthony Albanese told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the world needs a 'political solution' and not 'a military one' in response to the devastating scenes in Gaza, in the days before confirming Australia would officially recognise Palestinian statehood. Mr Netanyahu has already criticised Australia standing with the United Kingdom, France and Canada as 'shameful', stating that Israel was 'applying force judiciously, and they know it'. 'Today, most of the Jewish public is against the Palestinian state for the simple reason that they know it won't bring peace, it will bring war,' he said. 'To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that – fall right into it – and buy this canard, is disappointing. And I think it's actually shameful,' he said. He added that Israel would not 'commit national suicide to get a good op-ed for two minutes'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Australia would recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Speaking on Monday following a Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said he had a 'long and civil discussion' with Mr Netanyahu on Thursday, where Mr Albanese spoke about the civilian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. 'I have said it publicly, and I said it directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears,' he said alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong. 'Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. This vital aid must be allowed to get to the people who need it most. 'This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza.' Mr Albanese added that while arguments put forward by Mr Netanyahu were 'very similar to the arguments that he put more than a year ago,' Mr Albanese advocated for the need for a 'political solution', and Australia would recognise statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. He said: 'It seems to me very clearly, and I put the argument to him that we need a political solution, not a military one, because a military response alone has seen the devastation in Gaza, and that has contributed to the massive concern that we see from the international community, not just from leaders, but from community members (too).' Mr Albanese said only a 'political' situation would bring peace in the Middle East. Picture: NewsWire/ Valeriu Campan Australia's support of an official Palestinian state will be predicated on several measures directly agreed to by the Palestinian Authority, with Mr Albanese speaking to President Mahmoud Abass last Tuesday. This includes recognition of Israel's right to exist, a commitment to demilitarisation, termination or prisoner payments, and the reforming of government, which includes the holding of general elections. Unlike Hamas, which govern Gaza, the Palestinian Authority are the political body which controls the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority have said Hamas would play no role in a future Palestinian state. Senator Wong said the international community could no longer 'keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome'. 'We can't keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt,' she said. She added that Australia wanted to seize on the new commitments offered by the Palestinian Authority, with the ultimate aim of creating a two-state solution. 'We know that two states is the key. It is the key to a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,' she said. 'We also know this is not the end, it is just the beginning. There is much more work to do in building a Palestinian state. 'We will help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority, and with the international community, Australia will hold the Palestinian Authority to its commitments.' Read related topics: Anthony Albanese Jessica Wang NewsWire Federal Politics Reporter Jessica Wang is a federal politics reporter for NewsWire based in the Canberra Press Gallery. She previously covered NSW state politics for the Wire and has also worked at and Mamamia covering breaking news, entertainment, and lifestyle. @imjesswang_ Jessica Wang
News.com.au
a day ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Anthony Albanese underlined 'political solution' to civilian catastrophe in Gaza during call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Anthony Albanese told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the world needs a 'political solution' and not 'a military one' in response to the devastating scenes in Gaza, in the days before confirming Australia would officially recognise Palestinian statehood. Mr Netanyahu has already criticised Australia standing with the United Kingdom, France and Canada as 'shameful', stating that Israel was 'applying force judiciously, and they know it'. 'Today, most of the Jewish public is against the Palestinian state for the simple reason that they know it won't bring peace, it will bring war,' he said. 'To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that – fall right into it – and buy this canard, is disappointing. And I think it's actually shameful,' he said. He added that Israel would not 'commit national suicide to get a good op-ed for two minutes'. Speaking on Monday following a Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said he had a 'long and civil discussion' with Mr Netanyahu on Thursday, where Mr Albanese spoke about the civilian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. 'I have said it publicly, and I said it directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears,' he said alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong. 'Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. This vital aid must be allowed to get to the people who need it most. 'This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza.' Mr Albanese added that while arguments put forward by Mr Netanyahu were 'very similar to the arguments that he put more than a year ago,' Mr Albanese advocated for the need for a 'political solution', and Australia would recognise statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. He said: 'It seems to me very clearly, and I put the argument to him that we need a political solution, not a military one, because a military response alone has seen the devastation in Gaza, and that has contributed to the massive concern that we see from the international community, not just from leaders, but from community members (too).' Australia's support of an official Palestinian state will be predicated on several measures directly agreed to by the Palestinian Authority, with Mr Albanese speaking to President Mahmoud Abass last Tuesday. This includes recognition of Israel's right to exist, a commitment to demilitarisation, termination or prisoner payments, and the reforming of government, which includes the holding of general elections. Unlike Hamas, which govern Gaza, the Palestinian Authority are the political body which controls the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority have said Hamas would play no role in a future Palestinian state. Senator Wong said the international community could no longer 'keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome'. 'We can't keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt,' she said. She added that Australia wanted to seize on the new commitments offered by the Palestinian Authority, with the ultimate aim of creating a two-state solution. 'We know that two states is the key. It is the key to a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,' she said. 'We also know this is not the end, it is just the beginning. There is much more work to do in building a Palestinian state. 'We will help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority, and with the international community, Australia will hold the Palestinian Authority to its commitments.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netanyahu to convene security cabinet to discuss plans to occupy Gaza, official says
LONDON and TEL AVIV -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with his security cabinet on Thursday, an Israeli official said, as he considers plans to occupy the Gaza Strip despite international condemnation of the deteriorating humanitarian situation there. Netanyahu is expected to ask the cabinet to approve plans for the Isreal Defense Forces to gradually seize Gaza City, the largest city in the territory, the Israeli official told ABC News. The cabinet was expected to meet at about 6 p.m. local time, or 11 a.m. ET, the source said. MORE: Netanyahu pushes for release of hostages through 'military solution' Netanyahu said Israel "intends to" take control of all of Gaza, but "we don't want to keep it or govern it," he said in an interview Thursday with Fox News. "We don't want to be there as a governing body. We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life. That's not possible with Hamas," Netanyahu said ahead of meeting with the security cabinet. Netanyahu said in the interview that he has not discussed Israel occupying all of Gaza with President Donald Trump. "He understands that it's Israel who is going to do the fighting. It's not American soldiers," Netanyahu told Fox when asked if Trump has given him the green light to occupy all of Gaza. "Well he just says, 'I know Israel is going to do what it's going to do,' and we haven't gotten into that kind of discussion," Netanyahu said. Responding to Netanyahu's comments on Fox, Hamas said the prime minister's comments revealed the real reason Israel withdrew from the negotiations to reach a ceasefire deal. "Netanyahu's statements represent a blatant reversal of the negotiation process and clearly expose the real motives behind his withdrawal from the latest round of talks, despite us nearing a final agreement," Hamas said in a statement. "Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm, without any doubt, that he is seeking to dispose of his captives and sacrifice them in service of his personal interests and extremist ideological agenda," Hamas continued. MORE: 5 die of hunger in Gaza over past day, health ministry says The Hostage Families Forum called for the Israeli cabinet to return to negotiations and reach a deal that will bring the remaining hostages home. "We are appealing to the cabinet -- the expansion of the fighting is a danger of death and immediate disappearance for our loved ones -- look us in the eye when you choose to sacrifice them," the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement. Two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News earlier this week that Netanyahu had decided to propose that the IDF move forward with a plan to fully conquer and occupy the Palestinian territory. Netanyahu held a three-hour limited security cabinet meeting on Tuesday where the matter was discussed, according to a readout from the prime minister's office. "The IDF is prepared to implement any decision made by the Political-Security Cabinet," the readout said. On Sunday, an Israeli official told ABC News that Netanyahu was pushing to expand the military operation in Gaza on the grounds that he felt Hamas is not interested in reaching a new deal under which surviving hostages could be released. When asked about the possible expansion of the campaign in Gaza, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday, "Reporting is one thing. Real plans might be another. We are not in the business of interpreting statements from foreign governments when and if they're made." "We do remain focused on freeing the hostages, including the remains of two Americans, and ensuring that Hamas never rules Gaza again," Bruce said. ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netanyahu pushing 'military solution' to free hostages: Source
Unable to find a diplomatic answer to the hostage crisis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a "military solution" to free the remaining hostages being held by Hamas terrorists, an Israeli official told ABC News on Sunday. Netanyahu has suggested expanding the Israeli military operation in Gaza and using military force to extract the final hostages who have been in captivity since being kidnapped in the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. It is believed there are about 20 living hostages still being held by Hamas. The Israeli official told ABC News that Israel and U.S. officials are in constant dialogue. The official said there is a growing understanding on the Israeli side that Hamas is not interested in a deal on the hostages. "Therefore, Prime Minister Netanyahu is pushing to expand military operations to release the hostages through a military solution," the Israeli official said. On Saturday, thousands of protesters filled the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding their government end the war and bring the last hostages home. "They are on the absolute brink of death," Ilay David, whose brother, Evyatar David, is believed to be among the remaining Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, told protesters gathered in Tel Aviv. "In the current unimaginable condition, they may have only days left to live. MORE: 28 countries sign statement calling for end of war in Gaza Hamas released a video over the weekend showing Evyatar David looking painfully emaciated. The protest erupted hours after Steve Witcoff, Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, met in Israel with the families of hostages still in captivity. As global concern over the hunger crisis in Gaza intensifies, Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee traveled to the Middle East on Friday to inspect the U.S. and Israel-backed aid distribution system there. MORE: Timeline of Israel's actions in Gaza after end of ceasefire with Hamas For months, humanitarian aid organizations and international bodies have warned that Gaza is facing "critical" levels of hunger and that famine is "imminent" in parts of the Gaza Strip. An increasing number of deaths due to malnutrition have also been reported, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. At least 175 people, including 93 children, have died from malnutrition in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Throughout the conflict, Israel has maintained that it is sending enough aid into Gaza, but international aid organizations have repeatedly said there is not enough aid, and the United Nations has reported conditions of malnutrition inside Gaza. The Israeli source who spoke to ABC News said humanitarian aid will continue to enter Gaza in areas outside combat zones and areas no longer controlled by Hamas.
