The foreign minister joins international condemnation of comments from a senior Israeli minister that stopping aid until hostages are returned could be “just and moral”.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has condemned a senior Israeli minister who suggested that the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza “might be just and moral” until hostages are returned by Hamas.
“The deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime. There is no justification for it, ever,” she posted. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the comments “beyond ignominious,” saying “it demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity.”British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there could be “no justification” for Smotrich’s words.
The US, meanwhile, has also rebuked Smotrich for what it called “ridiculous charges” against a US-brokered ceasefire proposal, saying he “ought to be ashamed” for questioning President Biden’s longstanding support for Israel,“Some critics, like Mr. Smotrich, for example, have claimed that the hostage deal is a surrender to Hamas or that hostages should not be exchanged for prisoners,” national security spokesman John Kirby said.
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