Australia has urged the protection of all civilians across Israel and Gaza.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government is working with international counterparts to provide humanitarian access to Gaza and establish a safe corridor at the Rafah crossing into Egypt to allow citizens to get to safety.
Israel continues to press into Gaza after Hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the Australian government, launched an attack against civilians on October 7, killing at least 1400 Israelis and taking more than 200 people hostage.
Asked whether he supported a statement from six former prime ministers who called for an end to religious hatred amid rising tensions over Israel's response against Hamas in Gaza, Mr Albanese said his position had been clear.
"It is important that we recognise that the attacks from Hamas on Israel are worthy of absolute condemnation in an unequivocal way," Mr Albanese told reporters in Bundaberg on Tuesday.
"It's also important to recognise that Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it does that matters.
"We need to make sure, as well, that every civilian life is valued, whether it be Israeli or Palestinian - every innocent loss of life is a tragedy."
John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison issued a joint statement on Monday calling for Australians to remain united in the face of conflict abroad.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network has accused the six of allowing themselves to be used as a "tool" to "minimise Israel's gross violations of international law for the past 75 years".
Former Labor prime minister Paul Keating declined to authorise the statement.
The joint letter said the former prime ministers stood with all Jewish Australians and the Australian Palestinian community for the "suffering" being experienced.
It also called for humanitarian access to Gaza and reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution.
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said unity was needed despite the ongoing conflict in the region.
"The last thing this country needs is division based on the terrible scenes we're seeing in Palestine and Israel. Hamas wins if this country becomes divided," he told Nine's Today program.
"These statements by the ex-prime ministers should be acknowledged."
Mr Shorten said the contents of the joint letter reflected the views of the federal government.
"We feel desperately for the civilians and Palestine, but we also recognise that the psychotic nature of the gangster regime of Hamas is just despicable and needs to be rooted out," he said.
"Somehow, along the way, we've got to try and do it in a way which just minimises the suffering of civilians in all sides."
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the letter was a powerful statement.
"This letter ... is a clear-cut reminder that Hamas is a terrorist organisation, undertook these terrorist atrocities, caused such huge loss of life and if left without being brought under control, would pose a continued threat to Israel in the future," he told Sky News.
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network President Nasser Mashni branded the statement as hollow.
"Their significant platform should have been used to echo calls by the United Nations for an immediate ceasefire," he said.
"How the former prime ministers could have the audacity to quote religious texts about peace while Israel is carpet bombing two million people in Gaza is gut-wrenching hypocrisy."
Gazan authorities say the death toll among Palestinians has passed 8000 due to Israel's retaliatory strikes.
Australian Associated Press
