The former Labor foreign affairs minister, Bob Carr, has called on the Australian government to impose sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to swiftly recognize Palestinian statehood. This move, Carr argues, would convey a strong message of disapproval over what he describes as the “deliberate starvation” of Gaza.
Bob Carr, also a former New South Wales state premier, commended Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent condemnation of Israel. Albanese accused Netanyahu’s administration of blocking aid and causing civilian casualties, including children, seeking essentials like water and food. However, Carr believes Australia should take a more proactive stance by leading global efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and emulate France’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state.
Calls for Decisive Action
In a statement to Guardian Australia, Carr emphasized the need for decisive action, suggesting that waiting for the UK or the US to move on recognition would be a sign of weakness. “The PM’s instinct is right, but I reckon the Australian public wants him to push further and harder,” Carr stated. “We should move decisively, now the French have, and get credit in Asia and elsewhere for having a mind of our own.”
His sentiments were echoed by Labor MP and former cabinet minister Ed Husic, who asserted, “The time is now.” The urgency of the situation was underscored by Albanese’s strongest condemnation yet of the starvation in Gaza, where international humanitarian organizations have raised alarms over severe malnutrition concerns.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
In the past four days alone, at least 45 people have reportedly died from hunger in Gaza. The United Nations and various aid groups attribute the dire conditions to Israel’s blockade, which restricts nearly all aid from entering the territory. Despite the gravity of the situation, Albanese’s statement did not outline any new actions or responses from Australia.
Bob Carr suggested that Australia could impose travel bans and financial sanctions on Netanyahu, similar to those placed on two far-right Israeli ministers in June. “They need to sanction Netanyahu. He’s directing this operation … subjecting the civilian population to collective punishment, including mass starvation,” Carr said.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Stances
Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, defended his country’s actions, asserting that Israel is “not only entitled but obligated under international law” to protect its citizens. Maimon criticized any condemnation of Israel’s defense measures, arguing that it distracts from the real issue: Hamas’s role in the conflict. “The international community must stop equivocating and start acting. Pressure must be placed where it belongs, on Hamas,” Maimon wrote.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong described the withholding of essential food aid from Palestinian children as “indefensible.” During a press conference in Sydney, she highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, stating, “Children are starving, civilians are dying.” Wong reiterated Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution, emphasizing that Palestinian statehood should not be contingent on a peace process.
Historical Context and Political Implications
Bob Carr, who served as the NSW premier from 1995 to 2005 and as federal foreign affairs minister from 2012 to 2013, noted that recognizing a Palestinian state has been a longstanding policy within the Labor party. He recalled moving a motion for recognition at the 2014 NSW Labor conference and expressed confidence that such a move would have widespread support in Australia.
“Recognition sends a message that we are turned inside out with disgust by what appears the deliberate starvation of the nation, identified as drip feeding,” Carr said. “I have not the faintest doubt it has majority support. People are coming up to me regularly and saying, ‘keep up what you’re doing on Palestine’. That’s unusual. The message has gotten out there.”
Labor’s internal pressure group, the Labor Friends of Palestine, has also been vocal, with co-convener Peter Moss revealing that a motion to sanction the Israeli government has been adopted by 80 local branches. “We call on the Australian government to implement official platform policy and immediately and unconditionally recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-4 June 1967 borders,” Moss stated.
As the situation in Gaza continues to escalate, the debate over Australia’s foreign policy stance is expected to intensify. Labor sources indicate that a similar motion may be discussed at the Victorian state conference in August, signaling potential shifts in Australia’s diplomatic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
