Albanese slams Israel's denial of starvation in Gaza
The prime minister was responding to statements made by his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia, during a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday.
"While there is a caveat on any health information which is provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented journalists from getting in," he told the meeting in Canberra.
There is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza, and I assure you that we have a commitment to achieve our war goals. We will continue to fight till we achieve the release of our hostages and the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities. They… pic.twitter.com/cND0ZoejgJ
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 28, 2025
It comes after Mr Albanese on Friday declared Israel's retaliation in Gaza following the October 7 attack on the nation state by Hamas had "gone beyond the world's worst fears".
Then on Sunday, he warned Israel had "quite clearly" breached international law by limiting food deliveries to starving civilians in Gaza, escalating his criticism of the Jewish state.
The prime minister spoke of his emotional response to images of gaunt and dying children in the Palestinian territory, while acknowledging increased airdrops of aid by Israel was "a start".
"It just breaks your heart," he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.
Overnight on Monday, US President Donald Trump contradicted the Israeli prime minister by stating many people were starving in the Gaza Strip and suggested more could be done to improve humanitarian access.
Mr Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza ..."
Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia Amir Meron told journalists on Monday "we don't recognise any famine or any starvation in the Gaza Strip".
The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities.
While air drops of aid have been carried out into Gaza, humanitarian agencies say they aren't enough to deal with worsening levels of starvation in the area.
At the caucus meeting, Mr Albanese was also asked about Palestinian statehood.
He referenced a Nelson Mandela quote, saying "it always seems impossible until it's done".
The prime minister has previously said any resolution on the issue would need to guarantee that Hamas, the de facto ruling authority in Gaza, which Australia has designated a terrorist group, plays no part in the future nation.
There would also need to be agreements on the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank, and a resolution of issues over the expansion of Israeli settlements.
Recognition of Palestinian statehood has been part of Labor's national platform since 2018.
Labor is facing intensifying pressure to follow France in recognising a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.
The Greens are calling on the government to impose the same sanctions on Israel as it had done so for Russia.
The minor party is also seeking a ban on buying items that can help fund the war, pointing to sanctions on pearls and truffles for Russia.
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Israel has taken a series of steps to increase the flow of food into Gaza over the last week, but U.N. and relief groups say conditions have not improved. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, and abducting 251. The militant group is still holding 50 captives, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says most of the dead are women and children, is staffed by medical professionals. The United Nations and other independent experts view its figures as the most reliable count of casualties. Israel has disputed its figures, but hasn't provided its own account of casualties. Shurafa, Metz and Magdy write for the Associated Press and reported from Deir al Balah, Jerusalem and Cairo, respectively.
