Rubenstein takes issue with Albanese Gaza statement

The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears…says Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In a prepared document sent to J-Wire, the prime minister declared:

“The position of the Australian Government is clear: every innocent life matters.

Every Israeli. Every Palestinian.

This conflict has stolen far too many innocent lives.

Tens of thousands of civilians are dead, children are starving.

Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored.

We call on Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law.

This includes allowing the United Nations and NGOs to carry out their lifesaving work safely and without hindrance.

Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned.

Australia condemns the terror and brutality of Hamas and we reiterate our call for the immediate release of the remaining hostages.

We continue to support all international efforts to facilitate a ceasefire, recognising that an immediate and permanent ceasefire gives the best hope of bringing hostages home and easing the agony of their loved ones.

Australia is proud to have strongly supported the creation of the modern state of Israel.

Then, as now, the global community envisioned two states: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.

Recognising the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own has long been a bipartisan position in Australia.

The reason a two-state solution remains the goal of the international community is that a just and lasting peace depends upon it.

Australia is committed to a future where both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples can live in peace and safety, within secure and internationally recognised borders.

Until that day, every effort must be made here and now to safeguard innocent life and end the suffering and starvation of the people of Gaza.”

However, Dr Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, said:  “It is disturbing that Prime Minister Albanese is so reliant on his views on the situation in Gaza on misleading, self-serving Hamas propaganda, albeit relayed through compliant anti-Israel UN agencies. At a time when all mediators agree that Hamas is the obstacle to a ceasefire agreement which would end the humanitarian crisis there, statements such as the one he issued today only encourage Hamas to hold out, convinced it is weakening Israel by doing so.”

Mr Albanese and his Government have rightly stated on many occasions that Hamas can have no future role in Gaza, but now he is demanding a ceasefire that would leave it in power there. And he is failing to attribute the blame for the distressing Gaza situation toward this banned terror group – which started the war and openly says it sees the suffering of Gaza’s civilians as ‘necessary sacrifices.’

There is no doubt a tragedy in Gaza which we all want to see end, but it is crucial to understand the cause and true nature of this crisis, or there is a high risk of exacerbating it rather than helping to resolve the problem.

It should be obvious that before there can be any serious moves towards a two-state peace, the PA must be comprehensively reformed and Hamas must be driven from Gaza. Otherwise, any moves, such as foreshadowing recognition, would be a reward for, and entrench, the PA’s intransigence and Hamas’ reign of terror,” Dr Rubenstein concluded.