Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has openly criticized Israel’s denial of starvation in Gaza, stating it is “beyond comprehension” for the nation to dismiss the severe humanitarian crisis. His comments round out a damning start to the year for Australia’s response to the evidence of hunger in Palestine that is currently invading the territory. Health Minister and Minister for Aged Care Sussan Ley has finally admitted the public health crisis. As she said in her closing remarks, “There is hunger, there is starvation in Gaza.” While this may seem like an econ 101 issue, this admission is a break from her past hesitance to publicly grapple with the problem.
Though late, the Australian government’s position on the unfolding crisis in Gaza shows increasing international pressure. Numerous international humanitarian agencies including Oxfam and CARE have publicly called for ceasefires as Gaza nears a state of “mass starvation.” The images of malnourished children emerging from the region have sparked outrage and mobilized responses from leaders and citizens worldwide. These images serve to deepen demands for urgent action to ease the pain of those who have lost so much.
Australia Accuses Israel of Violating International Law
Albanese has condemned Israel’s actions as international law violations for refusing to release vital humanitarian assistance to people in desperate need. This claim has been received with distrust from some in the minority party. Dan Tehan, the top Coalition figure in the Education portfolio, has called on Albanese to produce proof for his assertion that Israel is violating international law. The Coalition has been relentless in holding the Prime Minister to account on her comments, highlighting the dangerous dynamics in Gaza.
Israel continues to insist that Hamas is to blame for the current hunger emergency. The Israeli government has asserted that Hamas has weaponized humanitarian aid within its fighters’ ranks. This deliberate strategy adds significant challenges to ensuring assistance reaches the civilians who need it most. This continued war has led to a contentious space in which humanitarian assistance is repeatedly undermined.
“Obviously, Israel are trying to provide humanitarian relief into Gaza, Hamas keeps on trying to disrupt those efforts.” – Dan Tehan
This blockade on humanitarian aid imposed by Israel in March was supposed to put pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages. This action has been universally condemned, as it deepened the already precarious situation for civilians in Gaza.
Global Responses and Future Actions
Internationally, there is an increasing mutual recognition that status quo cannot stand given the humanitarian catastrophe. France, the United Kingdom and Canada have signaled that they will recognize a Palestinian state during the forthcoming UN General Assembly. For one, if they want to do it badly enough. This latest development has a lot of people wondering how Australia should respond. Asked whether Australia would make a similar announcement about supporting Palestinian statehood, Foreign Minister Penny Wong would not rule it out.
Wong highlighted the need for immediate action to alleviate the crisis unfolding in Gaza. She stated, “We cannot continue to stand by and watch what is happening in Gaza and not take the sorts of actions you are seeing.” Her comments reflect a broader sentiment among global leaders regarding the need for a coordinated response to the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Palestine.
“There is hunger and starvation in Gaza and it needs to be addressed and I’m pleased to see the Israeli government is doing exactly that.” – Penny Wong
Wong stressed that Hamas needed to be defeated and release of the hostages was key. To solve the crisis, he said, we need a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach.
Complex Dynamics of Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian and human rights concerns are exacerbated by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. As many observers, including Naomi Klein and The Nation, have noted, Israel’s actions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. At the same time, they argue Hamas does much to exacerbate suffering among civilians.
As Australian politician Dave Sharma recently observed, the blame here cuts both ways. He stated, “Who is to blame, and how much is Hamas commandeering supplies? People can have those arguments and discussions, but I don’t think the Gazan civilian population should be held hostage because of those discussions.”
