The Australian government has committed another $15 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, which has so far been used to fund water tanks and body bags in Gaza hospitals.
Thousands of Australians in Lebanon are ignoring the federal government’s advice to leave as regional tensions escalate, prompting fears their options for escape will close quickly if Hezbollah is drawn into a war with Israel on its northern border.
Asked whether she was neither condemning nor affirming the legality of Israel’s actions, she said: “I have used the words I have used ... I understand the politics of why you’re trying to press this point … I’m not going to engage in a factual debate.”Opposition Leader Peter Dutton repeated his condemnation of Hamas on Thursday, saying it was “a terrorist organisation the same as ISIS, the same as al-Qaeda” that needed to be challenged to protect Australian interests.
“Frankly, the level of calls we receive in relation to Lebanon have diminished to very low numbers ... People have not, in the numbers we would like to see, decided to follow our advice and leave,” he said.“There are many reasons for that. Australians have a long-term connection with family and friends in Lebanon, many are resident there. Many are hoping ... to try and avoid an escalation and regional spread of this conflict. But we don’t have the luxury of relying on hope.
“What happened in 2006 ... was a consular crisis that you could say is seared into the minds of DFAT officers involved at the time,” he said.The government has not been able to help the 79 Australians, permanent residents and their families leave Gaza. Wong said no foreign citizens had been able to exit through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, describing the situation as “seriously concerning”.
“We understand that four convoys have passed through that gate so far, with at least 62 truckloads of humanitarian supplies,” DFAT deputy secretary Rod Brazier said.
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