Australian PM Albanese Condemns Israel Killing Civilians Denying Gaza Aid

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued his strongest condemnation yet of Israel's actions in Gaza, describing the situation as a 'humanitarian catastrophe' marked by the denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children seeking food and water. He called on Israel to immediately comply with international law by allowing the United Nations and NGOs to deliver lifesaving aid without obstruction and urged abandoning any plans for the permanent displacement of Palestinians. Despite increasing global pressure and France's recent commitment to recognize Palestinian statehood, Albanese reaffirmed Australia's bipartisan stance supporting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood within a two-state solution framework. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to safeguard innocent lives and end the starvation and suffering in Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians have died amid the ongoing conflict. His stronger language followed alarming reports of mass starvation attributed to the blockade and humanitarian crisis in the region. However, the Australian opposition criticized Albanese for not explicitly naming Hamas as the primary obstacle to peace and aid delivery.