Anthony Albanese contends Penny Wong’s calls for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict ‘perfectly consistent’ with Parliament

Senator Wong, on Sunday, shared the federal government’s concerns over the immense scale of humanitarian destruction being caused in Gaza through relentless Israeli bombardments and urged the need for Israel’s adherence to international law.

The Foreign Minister said Australia was seeking to push for a pause in fighting, but clarified this outcome could only be achieved only if both the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and Hamas withdrew their respective military offensives.

“We all want to take the next steps towards a ceasefire, but it cannot be one-sided,” she said.

Her comments have since been lambasted by the Coalition and Jewish bodies, who argue it presents a view at odds with the Labor government’s – which has maintained its stance as in support of Israel since the conflict broke out on October 7.

The Prime Minister, however, refuted this critique in Monday’s Question Time sitting and argued Senator Wong’s remarks had not deviated from the bipartisan condemnation of Hamas’s acts of terrorism but only urged for the “protection of civilian life”.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton kicked off the session with the first question to Mr Albanese asking if Senator Wong’s remarks were “the government’s position” on the war.

“What the foreign minister spoke about what perfectly consistent with the motion that was moved in this parliament, that was supported by the opposition on the floor of this parliament,” the PM responded, referring to a motion he moved in the House last month condemning Hamas, which received support from all federal MPs but the Greens.

“It provides a principled way of moving forward. It provided for one unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, asserted Israel’s right to defend itself. It also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

“It condemned antisemitism. It went on to say to recognise Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, nor their needs and aspirations. It acknowledged the devastating loss of Israel and Palestinian life and the innocent civilians on all sides of suffering… and the attacks by Hamas in the subsequent conflict.

“It said that this parliament supports justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. It said, which was backed up by the foreign minister yesterday, reiterates Australia’s consistent position in all context is to call for the protection of civilian life.”

Mr Dutton fired back ruling the PM’s answer unsatisfactory in relation to “reckless comments by the Foreign Minister”.

Mr Albanese repeated his defence, saying Senator Wong had simply reiterated “Australia’s consistent position in all contexts to call for the protection of civilian lives and the observance of international law”.

“The opposition voted for that a few weeks ago. Is that not their position now?

“We know that we have a responsibility to not seek to politicise these matter,  but to engage in a principled way going forward… that sort of provocation is vital at this time, that people in positions of leadership exercise that leadership in a responsible way.”

Israel is now facing mounting global pressure to declare a ceasefire in Gaza as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate by the day.

Its government has, however, paid no heed to the calls arguing peaceful terms could not be established until Hamas was entirely annihilated and that the soaring casualties in Gaza were largely to do with the militant group’s own act of basing command centres under civilian infrastructure including hospitals, mosques and refugee camps.

At an Arab-Islamic summit on Saturday, leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Syria, and Iran all signed a joint statement condemning Israel and calling on the United Nations Security Council to pass a binding resolution halting the conflict.

The leaders said they “reject describing this war as self-defence or justifying it under any pretext.”

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has outright rejected demands for a ceasefire.

“Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7. Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism,” he said.

“That will not happen.”