Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has expressed his concerns about increasing the intake of individuals from Gaza. The federal government is currently operating repatriation flights from Israel and working with international partners to establish a humanitarian corridor out of Gaza. Currently, there are over 79 Australian residents in Gaza. When questioned about the safety risks of repatriation, Dutton emphasized the need for caution and certainty about the individuals being brought back to Australia. He pointed out the precarious circumstances and conditions in a war-torn environment and drew attention to the scenes from Afghanistan where individuals were clinging to aircraft trying to escape Kabul. Dutton also highlighted the screening process that repatriated Afghans went through before coming to Australia. He emphasized the more predictable environment in Afghanistan compared to Gaza.
In response to questions about his stance on Israel and Palestine, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese stated that Australia stands against Hamas and condemns their acts of terrorism. He expressed grief for the loss of innocent lives on both sides. Calls have been made for Albanese to visit Israel on his way back from the United States to show support and solidarity. Former Australian ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, and Opposition Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham also expressed the importance of such a visit. Albanese has spoken to the Israeli ambassador but has not yet had a discussion with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Dutton expressed surprise at this news and noted that very few world leaders have not reached out to provide support to Israel. He stated that the lack of contact says a lot about how Israel views Albanese’s stance on the matter.
Albanese’s past involvement with the Parliamentary Friend of Palestine group and footage of him attending a pro-Palestine event earlier in his career have also been brought up. The Albanese government recently announced $15 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, in addition to the $10 million previously committed. This funding will go towards life-saving assistance such as emergency water and medical services. At a joint press conference with President Joe Biden in Washington, Albanese emphasized the strong friendship between Australia and the United States and their history of supporting each other in difficult times.