ANZUUA wrote a second time to the Australian Government urging more effective action on the Middle East violence, and we have received a further response from the Australian Foreign Minister.
The response says:
Thank you for your letter of 4 September 2024 regarding the Hamas-Israel conflict. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong.
The widespread human suffering we are witnessing in Gaza is completely unacceptable. This cannot continue. While Australia is not a central player, we have a respected voice and we are using it to advocate for a ceasefire, the protection of civilians, increased humanitarian assistance and the release of hostages.
We support the ceasefire proposal endorsed by the UN Security Council and want to see it fully implemented by both parties. Any delay will only see more lives lost.
The Foreign Minister has pressed the Netanyahu Government directly for a ceasefire, as have Government officials in Canberra and in Israel. We continue to make clear Australia's expectation that Israel act in accordance with international humanitarian law. We have been clear with Israel that it must comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.
We are pressing countries with influence over Hamas, to help secure the immediate and unconditional release of remaining hostages. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas's horrific terror attacks of 7 October 2023.
We are using our voice and our vote in international institutions and forums. It is six months since Australia voted with 152 countries for a ceasefire at the United Nations. In May, Australia supported expanded Palestinian rights to participate in UN forums and the General Assembly's aspiration for eventual Palestinian membership of the United Nations, consistent with a two-state solution.
Australia is deeply concerned by ongoing settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. We have been firm and consistent that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace.
The Foreign Minister has also been clear that the Australian Government will deny anyone identified as an extremist settler a visa to travel to Australia. In July, the Australian Government imposed Magnitsky-style targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on seven Israeli individuals, and targeted financial sanctions on one entity, for involvement in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The individuals and entity sanctioned have been involved in extremely violent attacks on Palestinians. The Australian Government continues to call on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and to cease its ongoing settlement activity, which only inflames tensions and further undermines stability and prospects for a two-state solution.
Regarding your call for Australia to sanction Israel, consistent with longstanding practice, the Government does not speculate publicly on whether or not sanctions will be applied. In pressing for change, we have to consider the full range of tools we have available - diplomacy and dialogue, working in coalitions, multilateral forums, legislation, public statements. Sanctions are not our only choice in sending other countries a message, and they are rarely our first choice.
Australia will continue to work for a just and enduring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The ANZUUA letter to the Minister and the pdf of the response from the Government are in the file share under https://www.anzuua.org/file-share/9fbdc5d1-391d-4be2-8557-146624aba71d. (This may take a few seconds to load).
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