Wong tells Palestinians aid must be used appropriately
Penny Wong has told Palestinian officials that Australian aid must be used for delivering vital services to civilians in a warning against allowing terror groups to access the funding.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong with Palestine’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh Image: Facebook
The foreign minister met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, where she raised her expectation a $21.5 million humanitarian package would be used to pay for healthcare and childhood education.
“I expressed to them that it was extremely important, given the focus on this, that any funds Australia provides are used appropriately for the provision of the services that we are seeking to fund,” she told reporters in Jerusalem.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said there were well-documented concerns with funding given to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees being siphoned off by Hamas.
He said it was “totally inadequate” that the government was relying on assurances from the Palestinian Authority – which doesn’t govern Gaza – that Australian taxpayer money would not be misspent.
Senator Wong also held talks with Palestinian communities affected by Israeli settler violence, as she reaffirmed the government’s position that West Bank settlements weren’t consistent with the “pathway to a two-state solution”.
The visit included meetings on Wednesday with officials from Israel and Palestine as calls for a ceasefire grow, more than 100 days since the deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Senator Wong will also travel to the United Arab Emirates as part of her week-long visit to the Middle East.
It makes me angry to see her and hear her.
Senator Wong is a great Foreign Affairs minister.