Anthony Albanese underlined “political solution” to civilian catastrophe in Gaza during call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Anthony Albanese told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the world needs a “political solution” and not “a military one” in response to the devastating scenes in Gaza, in the days before confirming Australia would officially recognise Palestinian statehood. Mr Netanyahu has already criticised Australia standing with the United Kingdom, France and Canada as “shameful”, stating that Israel was “applying force judiciously, and they know it”. “Today, most of the Jewish public is against the Palestinian state for the simple reason that they know it won’t bring peace, it will bring war,” he said. “To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that – fall right into it – and buy this canard, is disappointing. And I think it’s actually shameful,” he said. He added that Israel would not “commit national suicide to get a good op-ed for two minutes”. Speaking on Monday following a Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said he had a “long and civil discussion” with Mr Netanyahu on Thursday, where Mr Albanese spoke about the civilian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. “I have said it publicly, and I said it directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears,” he said alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong. “Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. This vital aid must be allowed to get to the people who need it most. “This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza.” Mr Albanese added that while arguments put forward by Mr Netanyahu were “very similar to the arguments that he put more than a year ago,” Mr Albanese advocated for the need for a “political solution”, and Australia would recognise statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. He said: “It seems to me very clearly, and I put the argument to him that we need a political solution, not a military one, because a military response alone has seen the devastation in Gaza, and that has contributed to the massive concern that we see from the international community, not just from leaders, but from community members (too).” Australia’s support of an official Palestinian state will be predicated on several measures directly agreed to by the Palestinian Authority, with Mr Albanese speaking to President Mahmoud Abass last Tuesday. This includes recognition of Israel’s right to exist, a commitment to demilitarisation, termination or prisoner payments, and the reforming of government, which includes the holding of general elections. Unlike Hamas, which govern Gaza, the Palestinian Authority are the political body which controls the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority have said Hamas would play no role in a future Palestinian state. Senator Wong said the international community could no longer “keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome”. “We can’t keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt,” she said. She added that Australia wanted to seize on the new commitments offered by the Palestinian Authority, with the ultimate aim of creating a two-state solution. “We know that two states is the key. It is the key to a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” she said. “We also know this is not the end, it is just the beginning. There is much more work to do in building a Palestinian state. “We will help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority, and with the international community, Australia will hold the Palestinian Authority to its commitments.”