Albanese says Israel’s blockade of Gaza ‘an outrage’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sharply criticised Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling the restrictions “outrageous” and accusing Israel of providing explanations that are “without credibility.”

His comments come as polling shows a dramatic shift in Australian public sentiment, with the vast majority of Australians now opposing Israel’s actions.

Speaking in Canberra on Monday, Albanese said he had conveyed Australia’s position directly to Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a meeting in Rome last week. “I made it very clear that Australia finds these actions completely unacceptable,” he told reporters. “We find Israel’s excuses and explanations completely untenable and without credibility. People are starving and the idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage”.

 

“It is outrageous that there be a blockade of food and supplies to people who are in need in Gaza. That is my clear position. It’s one I’ve indicated clearly and directly to the Israeli government. It’s one that will continue to be a part of international statements, as we were last week,” he said.

He added that Australia has “signed up repeatedly to statements” with international partners, including joint communiqués with the prime ministers of Canada and New Zealand, calling for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the urgent passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza. “There is a humanitarian crisis. That’s the issue that we’re concerned with,” he stated.

His comments come as a YouGov poll commissioned by major Australian aid organisations found that 82 percent of Australians believe Israel’s prevention of food, water and medicine from reaching civilians in Gaza is unjustified, and 67 percent think the Australian government should do more to help. Support for a ceasefire is widespread, including 89 percent of Labor voters and 74 percent of Coalition voters.

Israel has only just begun to allow a limited number of aid trucks into Gaza after nearly three months of restrictions. According to Oxfam Australia, more than 9000 trucks loaded with food, medicine and clean water are still waiting to enter. Acting chief executive Chrisanta Muli said the small number permitted so far “represents a trickle of water into an ocean of need.”

The conflict began with the horrific October 7 attacks by Hamas in which 1200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage. Israel responded with a military campaign that has devastated Gaza, and its military now controls around 77 percent of the territory, according to local officials.

The Israeli government has publicly disputed claims that it is deliberately blocking humanitarian aid. Officials argue they are facilitating the entry of aid while enforcing stringent security measures to prevent supplies from being seized by Hamas. Netanyahu has proposed a new aid distribution system involving controlled zones and emphasised that all shipments are physically inspected and monitored to ensure they reach civilians.

Albanese said that while Australia unequivocally condemns Hamas and continues to call for the release of all hostages, that does not absolve Israel of responsibility under international law. “States which are democratic have a responsibility to behave in a way that is consistent with international law and with humanitarian concerns,” he said. “The whole world is concerned about what has occurred with the blockade and Australia will continue to make clear statements on that”.

“You know, Hamas is a terrorist organisation who should have no role in the future of Gaza or the West Bank. We make that very clear,” Albanese added. “We make clear that hostages should be released immediately. We’ve consistently and unequivocally opposed what happened on October 7”.

Albanese addressed this tension directly, saying that condemnation of Hamas and criticism of the Israeli government are not mutually exclusive. “You can be a clear opponent of all that Hamas has done and still be able to be critical of the actions of the Israeli government, which we have done both privately and publicly,” he said.

He added that Australians should not import the conflict into local communities. “People should not bring conflict here, which some of the acts of antisemitism have done, or attempted to do.”

The president of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Daniel Aghion, told J-Wire: “The Prime Minister is correct to say that there is a humanitarian imperative to get food, medicines and other supplies to civilians in Gaza.

However, there is also an imperative to stop Hamas and other terrorist groups from stealing these items.

The Prime Minister’s statement failed to criticise the looting by Hamas gangs, or to suggest an alternative way to overcome it.

Even Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas released a statement condemning “Hamas-affiliated gangs” for looting aid.   A similar condemnation was conspicuously lacking in the Prime Minister’s statement.”