‘Disgusting': Albanese government condemned by US Ambassador to Israel and Israeli Ambassador to Australia over joint statement on Gaza War
The US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has condemned Australia's decision to join 27 other countries in issuing a joint statement criticising Israel's actions in Gaza.
It comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed a statement which accused Israel of 'drip feeding aid' and 'killing civilians, including children'.
The Albanese government has since been criticised by Mr Huckabee, as well as Israel's Ambassador to Australia and shadow foreign affairs minister Michaelia Cash.
In a fiery statement, the US Ambassador to Israel described the joint statement as 'disgusting'.
'Twenty-five nations put pressure on Israel instead of savages of Hamas! Gaza suffers for one reason: Hamas rejects every (ceasefire) proposal,' he said.
'Blaming Israel is irrational.' — Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 21, 2025
Shadow foreign affairs minister Michaelia Cash said the Albanese government's stance on Israel was 'disappointing'.
'It is disappointing that once again the Albanese government is supporting a statement attacking Israel,' Ms Cash said in a statement on Tuesday.
'First and foremost, any moral outrage about the situation in Gaza should be directed at Hamas.
'Hamas could end the suffering of the people of Gaza by freeing the remaining Israeli hostages and laying down their weapons.'
The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, and Italy are among the governments who signed the communique.
However, other allies including the United States, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia did not sign the document.
The Ambassador of Israel to Australia, Amir Maimon, rejected the Albanese government's statement, calling it 'disconnected from reality'.
'Israel rejects the joint statement published by a group of countries, including Australia, as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas,' he said.
The condemnation follows mounting criticism of the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, particularly its handling of humanitarian aid.
The joint statement criticised Israel's 'dangerous' aid delivery model and accused the Israeli government of depriving Gazans of their dignity by limiting essential supplies.
Israel has rejected many of the claims about civilian deaths and blockages of humanitarian aid.
As federal politicians returned to Canberra, for the first sitting fortnight since the election, activists rallied on the lawns outside Parliament House.
The protesters paraded around with anti-Israel posters and held signs that said things like 'Albanese, Wong, gutless American patsies'.
There were also decapitated bloody dolls strewn over a large sign that featured US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The protest was at the back entrance to Parliament House, where Mr Albanese walked past on Monday.
He also needed to pass the protest on his way in to open parliament on Tuesday.
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