WAR – ISRAEL

Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal as Israel strikes Rafah

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Original article by Sam Mednick, Josef Federman, Bassem Mroue
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 7-May-24

Hamas has confirmed that it will accept a ceasefire proposal that is being brokered by mediators Qatar and Egypt in the latest attempt to end the war with Israel. Details of the proposed ceasefire have not been disclosed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it does not meet his nation’s essential demands; however, Netanyahu has indicated that he will send negotiators to continue talks on the deal. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces have confirmed that "targeted strikes" have begun in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Israel advised people in Rafah to evacuate the town ahead of the military operation.

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Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal as Israel strikes Rafah

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Original article by Sam Mednick, Josef Federman, Bassem Mroue
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 7-May-24

Hamas has confirmed that it will accept a ceasefire proposal that is being brokered by mediators Qatar and Egypt in the latest attempt to end the war with Israel. Details of the proposed ceasefire have not been disclosed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it does not meet his nation’s essential demands; however, Netanyahu has indicated that he will send negotiators to continue talks on the deal. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces have confirmed that "targeted strikes" have begun in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Israel advised people in Rafah to evacuate the town ahead of the military operation.

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US and EU consider new sanctions against Iran after its air attack on Israel

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Original article by Peter Beaumont, Julian Borger
The Guardian – Page: Online : 17-Apr-24

The Israeli government has advised that it is still considering its response to Iran’s recent missile and drone attack; however, Israel says its response will be ‘calibrated’ to limit further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, US treasury secretary Janet Yellen says sanctions will be part of the Biden administration’s strategy to disrupt Iran’s "malign and destabilising activity". The European Union is also considering new sanctions on Iran, which has indicated that the attack on Israel was justified due to the recent airstrike on its consulate in Syria.

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UNITED STATES. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Wong suggests Australian government considering recognising Palestinian statehood

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Original article by Stephen Dziedzic
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 10-Apr-24

Australia’s Jewish community has expressed concern over comments made by Foreign Minister Penny Wong which suggested that the federal government may be open to recognising a Palestinian state. Wong has used a speech at a National Security College conference to contend that international recognition of Palestinian statehood could provide a pathway to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Wong also argued that recognition of Palestinian statehood would help to undermine the Hamas terrorist organisation. Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler says Hamas must be removed from power in Gaza before there can be any consideration of statehood; he adds that there must be a new generation of Palestinian leaders who recognise Israel’s right to exist.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA

PM’s fury at Israel raises Jewish fears

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 4-Apr-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Israeli airstrike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six of her colleagues was "completely unacceptable". Albanese discussed the botched airstrike with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, stating that he told Netanyahu that Australians are outraged by the tragedy; he also demanded full accountability for the incident, in which three humanitarian aid vehicles in Gaza were targeted by Israeli drones. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reiterated the federal government’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution; however, Jewish community leaders in Australia are concerned that a ceasefire would leave Hamas in control of Gaza.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

ABC accused of bias over Israel-Hamas war

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Original article by James Madden, Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: 3 : 14-Feb-24

The ABC has received more than 3,000 complaints about its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war since the conflict began in October. The public broadcaster’s editorial director Gavin Fang notes that the majority of complaints were about the ABC’s alleged bias, with a similar proportion of viewers accusing it of being pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. Meanwhile, MD David Anderson has emphasised the importance of the ABC’s impartiality and objectivity in an appearance before a Senate estimates hearing.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Labor urged to recognise Palestinian state without further delay after Israeli PM’s rejection of two-state solution

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Original article by Daniel Hurst, Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 24-Jan-24

The federal government has consistently supported a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently ruled out this option. Izzat Abdulhad, who is the head of the general delegation of Palestine to Australia, says the federal government should both express disappointment at Netanyahu’s position and recognise the State of Palestine without further delay. He adds that the government should also adopt the position of the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, who has contended that a two-state solution may need to be imposed from outside in order to achieve peace.

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‘We don’t accept’ genocide case: Wong

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Original article by Yvonne Ball, Jess Malcolm
The Australian – Page: 5 : 17-Jan-24

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the federal government respects the independence of the International Court of Justice and its role in upholding international law. However, she has emphasised that this does mean that Australia accepts the premise of South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel in the ICJ. Wong also notes that Australia is not currently a party to the genocide claim, and that the ICJ has not yet sought international submissions on the case. Wong held talks with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman on Tuesday, which will be followed by two days of talks in Israel. She will meet survivors of the 7 October Hamas terrorist attacks, although she will not visit the sites where the attacks occurred.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Red Sea attacks risk imports, oil

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins, Jacob Greber, Sarah Jones, Mark Mulligan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 5 : 20-Dec-23

The price of crude oil briefly rose by four per cent on Tuesday, in response to ongoing attacks on Red Sea shipping by Houthi rebels. However, the oil price retreated after oil companies indicated that they will temporarily cease using the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden corridor. Acting Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says petrol prices may rise, given that the trade route through the Red Sea is critical to oil supplies. Meanwhile, US Studies Centre CEO Mike Green has warned that the loss of access to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will have a "very significant economic impact" on the entire Indo-Pacific region. The cost of importing goods into Australia is likely to rise, at a time when industrial action at DP World terminals is already causing delays in unloading container ships.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE, DP WORLD AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Albanese calls for Gaza ceasefire in joint statement with NZ and Canada PMs

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The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 13-Dec-23

The Australian, New Zealand and Canadian governments have condemned the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October. The joint statement issued by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his counterparts Chris Luxon and Justin Trudeau also calls for a sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for Hamas to release all remaining hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms. The three leaders have also recognised Israel’s right to defend itself but have emphasised that the nation must respect international humanitarian law.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEW ZEALAND. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CANADA. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER