As the crisis in Gaza deepens, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken out against Israel’s actions, saying they are “quite clearly” breaching international law.
Albanese described the scenes of starvation in Gaza as “heartbreaking”, citing the example of a severely malnourished one-year-old boy, Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq.
“Civilian casualties and death in Gaza is completely unacceptable and completely indefensible,” he said in an interview with the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
Albanese emphasized that Israel, as a democratic state, has a responsibility to ensure that innocent lives are not lost.
Breach of International Law
The Prime Minister stated that Israel’s decision to stop food deliveries to Gaza in March was a clear breach of international law.
“I’m not a lawyer, but it’s a breach of decent humanity and morality, and everyone can see that,” he said.
Albanese reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but emphasized that this did not justify the suffering of innocent Palestinians.
No Immediate Recognition of Palestinian State
When asked about recognizing a Palestinian state, Albanese said that a decision would be made “at an appropriate time”, but not immediately.
He expressed concerns about how recognition would reduce Hamas’ involvement in a Palestinian state and how such a state could exist without threatening Israel’s sovereignty.
“We won’t do any decision as a gesture. We will do it as a way forward if the circumstances are met,” he said.
Aid Delays and Humanitarian Crisis
International aid organizations have reported that mass hunger has now arrived in Gaza, with stocks running out after Israel cut off all supplies to the territory in March.
Israel has since resumed aid airdrops to Gaza and established “humanitarian corridors” for the safe movement of United Nations convoys delivering aid to Gazans.
Albanese described Israel’s allowance of aid airdrops and convoys as a “start”, but emphasized that the civilian casualties in Gaza are “completely indefensible”.