Anthony Albanese evades questions over former PM Paul Keating’s abstention from prime ministerial anti-Hamas statement

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has evaded questions around Paul Keating’s refusal to sign a joint statement from six former Australian leaders condemning Palestinian militant group Hamas and backing Israel.

The letter, released on Monday, was organised by the Zionist Federation of Australia and saw all living former prime ministers sign the statement except Mr Keating, who abstained and said it had been “drafted by” the Jewish representative organisation.

The rare statement drew support from across the political spectrum with former Labor and Coalition leaders joining and mirrored the Albanese Government’s diplomatic show of support for Israel whilst also criticising the devastation its defences were causing to civilians in Gaza.

Mr Albanese reiterated this position when asked about the letter, however, held off on commenting about Mr Keating’s abstention.

“I think that’s a question for Paul Keating, I would have thought,” the prime minister said on Tuesday.

“I support the positions that I’ve taken and the position in the parliament last Monday was done with overwhelming support. 

“It is important that we recognise that the attacks from Hamas on Israel are worthy of absolute condemnation in an unequivocal way. It’s also important to recognise that Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it does that matters. And 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.”

The joint statement – issued by John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison – condemned Hamas’ “cruel and murderous” October 7 attack and labelled its violence on par with transnational terror group ISIS.

It also acknowledged and voiced solidarity with innocent Palestinians killed in the conflict and pinned responsibility for the casualties on Hamas, saying it “sought to provoke Israel into a reaction that would kill countless innocent civilians in Gaza”.

“The Hamas terrorists have no more interest in the safety of Palestinians than they do of Israelis,” it read.

The former leaders also called on Australians to not allow the war to ignite ethnic division amongst themselves, a plea repeatedly made by politicians with domestic community tensions continuing to spiral.

Prime Minister Albanese has since faced fresh demands to show more urgency in his response to the issue, with the Opposition calling for a “solid and firm” stance on Israel’s military defences in Gaza.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Mr Albanese have both affirmed the view that although Israel’s retaliatory attacks on the Palestinian territory are within its right of self-defence, the “way it defends itself matters”.

The escalating warfare has seen Gaza pounded by IDF airstrikes killing thousands, but Israel continues to brush off concerns of a humanitarian crisis and has paid no heed to global calls for a ceasefire, instead inching closer to a full-scale ground invasion.

Advocacy for the plight of Palestinians caught in the war is gaining global attention, with people marching in rallies of thousands across the world urging Israel to call off its offensives.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, in response to the prime ministers’ co-signed letter, said their overwhelming support for Israel showed the suffering of people in Gaza had fallen on deaf ears.

“The statement’s reference to ‘Australian values of love and respect’ rings hollow, given that the former prime ministers failed to acknowledge the tens of thousands of Australians expressing their horror about Israel’s behaviour, and ignored the anguish that many thousands of Palestinian Australians are currently feeling,” it said in a statement.

“The prime ministers have failed in their duty as states people to equally uphold international law. Their significant platform should have been used to echo calls by the United Nations for an immediate ceasefire.”