Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Israel’s limiting of aid to Gaza as “unacceptable”.
Albanese on Monday described the blockade of food and supplies to people “who are in need” in Gaza as “outrageous” and said that he has indicated Australia’s position directly to the Israeli government.
“We find Israel’s excuses and explanations completely untenable and without credibility,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“People are starving. The idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage. That is my clear position.”
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, earlier in May, joined counterparts from 22 other countries, including Germany, France and Britain, in calling for Israel to allow an immediate full resumption of aid into Gaza and enable United Nations organizations to save lives and reduce suffering.
The Australian branch of international charity Oxfam on Monday published the results of a poll that found 82 percent of Australians believe Israel’s deliberate blocking of aid into Gaza “cannot be justified”.
The survey found that 67 percent of Australians believe that the federal government should do more to support civilians in Gaza to access food, water and medicine.
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