Hamas heralds Starmer's Palestinian recognition as bringing ‘victory and liberation'
'Well, you know you are doing well as a world leader when you start being praised by high-ranking officials within terror organisations,' Ms De Giorgio said.
Mr Starmer's actions raise concerns about rewarding terrorism.
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
US envoy meets Israeli hostage families in Tel Aviv
US envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday met the anguished families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, as fears for the captives' survival mounted almost 22 months into the war sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack. Witkoff was greeted with some applause and pleas for assistance from hundreds of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, before going into a closed meeting with the families. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed the meeting was underway and videos shared online showed Witkoff arriving as families chanted "Bring them home!" and "We need your help." The visit came one day after Witkoff visited a US-backed aid station in Gaza, to inspect efforts to get food into the devastated Palestinian territory. Yotam Cohen, brother of 21-year-old hostage Nimrod Cohen, told AFP in the square: "The war needs to end. The Israeli government will not end it willingly. It has refused to do so. "The Israeli government must be stopped. For our sakes, for our soldiers' sakes, for our hostages' sakes, for our sons and for the future generations of everybody in the Middle East." After the meeting, the Forum released a statement saying that Witkoff had given them a personal commitment that he and US President Donald Trump would work to return the remaining hostages. The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, had been mediating ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel that would allow the hostages to be released and humanitarian aid to flow more freely. But talks broke down last month and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is under increasing domestic pressure to come up with another way to secure the missing hostages, alive and dead. He is also facing international calls to open Gaza's borders to more food aid, after UN and humanitarian agencies warned that more than two million Palestinian civilians are facing starvation. - 'Without rest' - But Israel's top general warned that there would be no respite in fighting in Gaza if the hostages were not released. "I estimate that in the coming days we will know whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages," said army chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, according to a military statement. "If not, the combat will continue without rest," he said, during remarks to officers inside Gaza on Friday. Of the 251 people who were kidnapped from Israel during Hamas's attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, 27 of them dead, according to the military. Palestinian armed groups this week released two videos of hostages looking emaciated and weak. Zamir denied that there was widespread starvation in Gaza. "The current campaign of false accusations of intentional starvation is a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the IDF (Israeli military), a moral army, of war crimes," he said. "The ones responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in the Gaza Strip is Hamas." Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures. A total of 898 Israeli soldiers have also been killed, according to the military. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, deemed reliable by the UN. - Civilian deaths - Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed 21 people in the territory on Saturday. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said two people were killed and another 26 injured after an Israeli strike on a central Gaza area where Palestinians had gathered before a food distribution point run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). He added that Saturday's bombings mostly targeted the areas near the southern city of Khan Yunis and Gaza City in the north. Witkoff visited another GHF site for five hours on Friday, promising that Trump would come up with a plan to better feed civilians. Adnan Abu Hasna, of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, told AFP that the agency had "approximately 6,000 trucks ready for the Gaza Strip, but the crossings are closed by political decision. There are five land crossings into the Strip through which 1,000 trucks can enter daily." The UN human rights office in the Palestinian territories on Friday said at least 1,373 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza had been killed since May 27, most of them by the Israeli military. Israel's military insist that soldiers never deliberately target civilians and accuses Hamas fighters of looting UN and humanitarian aid trucks.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Wong rebukes Israel in closed-door talks with ambassador amid anger over starvation
Foreign Minister Penny Wong rebuked Israel's behaviour in a private meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu's top diplomat in Australia, days after its embassy claimed Gazans were not starving. Wong held talks with ambassador Amir Maimon in her Canberra office on Thursday at the end of a week of intense debate on the worsening crisis in Gaza and global momentum to recognise Palestinian statehood. It was the second time in three days that Maimon was spoken to by the government, after a lower-level meeting with departmental officials on Tuesday. Multiple sources familiar with Thursday's meeting, who were not permitted to speak publicly, said Wong reiterated Australia's position on the situation in Gaza. That position includes urging Israel to comply with international law in its conflict with Hamas and allowing more food into Gaza. Australia has said it will recognise a Palestinian state in time, as long as conditions are met.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
AUKUS and Palestine tensions flare within Labor
Victorian Labor has voted to act against "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine and suspend Australia's participation in the three-nation AUKUS defence agreement. While non-binding on the state or federal government, the grassroots motions passed at the party's state conference in Melbourne on Saturday highlight tensions on international policy within the Labor movement. Two successful AUKUS motions included calling for an inquiry into the defence agreement, suspending Australia's participation in it and urging a federal government review into its ongoing participation. The vote to "act against military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine was passed with strong support and to a standing ovation from some members of the Moonee Valley Racecourse audience after unsuccessful amendments to change the wording. The motion called for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, comprehensive sanctions on members of Israel's Netanyahu government and improved military trade transparency and tracking laws. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria's policy was to follow the federal government and stressed the importance of a strong defence industry for national protection. Friction within the party over the Middle East flared earlier in the day when a handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, which involved them holding up images of Palestinian flags on phones and devices. During his address, Mr Marles thanked the crowd for helping secure a thumping federal election win and increased seats in Victoria, while Ms Allan's speech was firmly focused on the 2026 state election. She promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among the federal MPs to join state colleagues, party members and union officials at the gathering. A coalition of several dozen activists marched the area outside the racecourse, opposing the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Police were on standby and security was heightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps used to shield public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan. Mr Albanese didn't attend in person this year, instead heading to the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. Victorian Labor has voted to act against "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine and suspend Australia's participation in the three-nation AUKUS defence agreement. While non-binding on the state or federal government, the grassroots motions passed at the party's state conference in Melbourne on Saturday highlight tensions on international policy within the Labor movement. Two successful AUKUS motions included calling for an inquiry into the defence agreement, suspending Australia's participation in it and urging a federal government review into its ongoing participation. The vote to "act against military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine was passed with strong support and to a standing ovation from some members of the Moonee Valley Racecourse audience after unsuccessful amendments to change the wording. The motion called for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, comprehensive sanctions on members of Israel's Netanyahu government and improved military trade transparency and tracking laws. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria's policy was to follow the federal government and stressed the importance of a strong defence industry for national protection. Friction within the party over the Middle East flared earlier in the day when a handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, which involved them holding up images of Palestinian flags on phones and devices. During his address, Mr Marles thanked the crowd for helping secure a thumping federal election win and increased seats in Victoria, while Ms Allan's speech was firmly focused on the 2026 state election. She promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among the federal MPs to join state colleagues, party members and union officials at the gathering. A coalition of several dozen activists marched the area outside the racecourse, opposing the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Police were on standby and security was heightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps used to shield public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan. Mr Albanese didn't attend in person this year, instead heading to the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. Victorian Labor has voted to act against "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine and suspend Australia's participation in the three-nation AUKUS defence agreement. While non-binding on the state or federal government, the grassroots motions passed at the party's state conference in Melbourne on Saturday highlight tensions on international policy within the Labor movement. Two successful AUKUS motions included calling for an inquiry into the defence agreement, suspending Australia's participation in it and urging a federal government review into its ongoing participation. The vote to "act against military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine was passed with strong support and to a standing ovation from some members of the Moonee Valley Racecourse audience after unsuccessful amendments to change the wording. The motion called for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, comprehensive sanctions on members of Israel's Netanyahu government and improved military trade transparency and tracking laws. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria's policy was to follow the federal government and stressed the importance of a strong defence industry for national protection. Friction within the party over the Middle East flared earlier in the day when a handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, which involved them holding up images of Palestinian flags on phones and devices. During his address, Mr Marles thanked the crowd for helping secure a thumping federal election win and increased seats in Victoria, while Ms Allan's speech was firmly focused on the 2026 state election. She promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among the federal MPs to join state colleagues, party members and union officials at the gathering. A coalition of several dozen activists marched the area outside the racecourse, opposing the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Police were on standby and security was heightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps used to shield public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan. Mr Albanese didn't attend in person this year, instead heading to the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. Victorian Labor has voted to act against "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine and suspend Australia's participation in the three-nation AUKUS defence agreement. While non-binding on the state or federal government, the grassroots motions passed at the party's state conference in Melbourne on Saturday highlight tensions on international policy within the Labor movement. Two successful AUKUS motions included calling for an inquiry into the defence agreement, suspending Australia's participation in it and urging a federal government review into its ongoing participation. The vote to "act against military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine was passed with strong support and to a standing ovation from some members of the Moonee Valley Racecourse audience after unsuccessful amendments to change the wording. The motion called for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, comprehensive sanctions on members of Israel's Netanyahu government and improved military trade transparency and tracking laws. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria's policy was to follow the federal government and stressed the importance of a strong defence industry for national protection. Friction within the party over the Middle East flared earlier in the day when a handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, which involved them holding up images of Palestinian flags on phones and devices. During his address, Mr Marles thanked the crowd for helping secure a thumping federal election win and increased seats in Victoria, while Ms Allan's speech was firmly focused on the 2026 state election. She promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among the federal MPs to join state colleagues, party members and union officials at the gathering. A coalition of several dozen activists marched the area outside the racecourse, opposing the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Police were on standby and security was heightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps used to shield public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan. Mr Albanese didn't attend in person this year, instead heading to the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land.
