Amid escalating Middle East conflict, Australia’s position remains steady, as Richard Marles, the nation’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, expressed that Israel is unlikely to summon Australian military reinforcements to their aid. Marles noted he had received no such requests from his Israeli counterparts, and would indeed be taken aback by any such proposition.
With unwavering support for the beleaguered nation, he maintains regular contact with the Israeli ambassador, along with the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, however no discussions pertaining to military support have transpired. Meanwhile, US is expediting fresh combat support to Israel, focusing primarily on air defences, munitions and other forms of security assistance, following a deadly attack orchestrated by Hamas.
Drawing attention to a grim reality, a senior US defence official revealed that Israel-bound planes, bearing requisite aid, had taken flight. Early clarity, however, is lacking on the specifics of the Israel’s request for security assistance. An arguably aggressive move from Hamas caught Israel off-guard as it mounted a surprise attack from Gaza last Saturday, leading to hundreds of confirmed Israeli fatalities. A hostage crisis now looms large.
Israel’s retaliatory actions were swift, as it returned fire on Gaza, leading to a full-scale blockade by Monday, curtailing food, electricity, and fuel supplies, essentially tightening a chokehold on the region. Such drastic measures by Israel elicited deep concern from United Nations secretary general António Guterres. Hamas remained defiant, vowing to execute one hostage for each rocket attack that Israel launches.
Domestically, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has passionately called upon Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to summon a meeting of the National Security Committee to discuss rising threat levels and possible de-escalation measures. Albanese maintains that he is in constant contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, receiving daily briefings and offering one to Dutton, which the Opposition leader confirmed receiving.
As a measure of caution for its citizens, Australia has upgraded travel advice for Israel, urging people to reconsider any non-essential travel due to unstable security conditions. An emergency state declared by the Israeli government beefs up the grave reality of the situation, and adds Gaza and border areas to the ‘do not travel’ list.
The scope of this ongoing conflict finds roots in the tumultuous history between Israel, Hamas and the Gaza Strip. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong laid emphasis on Israel’s right to self-defence but urged all sides to ensure civilian safety. She viewed the actions of Hamas as destructive for the government’s aspiration of reaching a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine.
Simultaneously, Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham voiced his sympathy for the Israelis falling victim to “unbelievable” atrocities on women, children and the elderly. He underlined Israel’s right to respond comprehensively to such forms of terrorism. The rising death toll paints a grim picture – above 800 Israelis and nearly 500 Palestinians.
United Nations reports indicate that the intense warfare has displaced over 123,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Australian citizens residing near the Lebanon border are advised to cooperate with Israeli officials, who’ve urged inhabitants of certain localities to evacuate.
The ripple effects have reached Australian soil as clashes unfolded between Israel and Palestine supporters in Sydney, culminating in the burning of the Israeli flag outside the Sydney Opera House during a pro-Palestine rally. Taking precautions, Australian landmarks were illuminated with Israel’s flag, standing in symbolic support of the embattled nation.
