Call for Aussie-backed hospital in Gaza, Ed Husic calls on PM to ‘move beyond words’, floats Israel sanctions

A prominent Australian-British doctor says Australians have paid a “heavy price” for conflict in the Gaza Strip, referencing the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.

The 43-year-old was killed by an Israeli military air strike in April 2024, alongside five World Central Kitchen employees, which was condemned by the international community.

Currently on a speaking tour and set to speak with ACT senator David Pocock, Mohammed Mustafa called on the Albanese government to support an Australian-backed children’s hospital based in Gaza.

While he’s recently met with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, he said his meeting requests with Anthony Albanese have gone unanswered.

He said the aid would help Australians “(feel) like we’ve done something to honour a fellow Australian that’s fallen in Gaza”.

His comments come as ousted Labor minister Ed Husic also implored the Prime Minister to “move beyond words”, calling on the government to be tougher on Israel, which has been accused of stopping aid supplies from entering Gaza.

“Australians have paid a heavy price for what’s going on in Gaza. Zomi Frankcom, who was killed last year in April, she was feeding children in Gaza … she’s an Australian, and, you know, she hasn’t had the justice,” said Dr Mustafa.

“There’s pain in the Muslim community, in the Jewish community, in the Lebanese community, and I think (we can come together) over a children’s hospital … and we can focus on the humanity of children.

“We can take a lot of the tension out and the fever pitch in this country and bring it down and bring communities together.”

Dr Mustafa, who recently returned from his second humanitarian mission, said he was “not asking for money”.

“It’s not money that we’re after, because money doesn’t solve problems. What we need to do is win the hearts and minds of people, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” he said.

“I think if we have an Australian Hospital in Gaza, where we get Australian doctors and they see these children, and we can tell their stories, it humanises them again.”

Senator Pocock, who will host the sold out public lecture to be attended by about 1100 Canberrans, said the events unfolding in Gaza were a “human catastrophe”.

“You’ve seen more and more Australians realise that as a middle power, we have a role to play,” he said.

“I’ll certainly continue to advocate on behalf of the many Canberrans who care so deeply.”

‘Beyond words’: Huge call amid Israel fallout

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Husic urged the Labor Party to take stronger action on Israel for maintaining its stranglehold on Gaza aid.

His comment follow the Prime Minister’s strongest condemnation of Israel, labelling its blockade of critical food and supplies “an outrage” and “completely unacceptable”.

Fewer than 700 aid trucks have entered Gaza since Israel lifted a months-long blockade last week, according to Israeli authorities.

But aid groups, UN officials and many of Israel’s allies – including Australia – have said it was not enough to support the more than two million Palestinians facing famine and rampant disease.

Mr Husic, who lost his cabinet spot in the factional deals that reshaped Mr Albanese’s second-term ministry, said on Tuesday it “certainly was important that the Prime Minister speak with the strength that he applied yesterday” but there was an “expectation” Australia would do more.

Mr Husic said moving “beyond words” looked like “calling in the Israeli ambassador to stress that Australia … expects that humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, be delivered” as well as a boost to Australia’s humanitarian support for Gazans.

He also said he suspected internationally co-ordinated sanctions on Israel were “under active consideration”.

“It’s clear that, from the statement issued by the UK, Canada and France, that that is obviously in their sphere of thought we should be ready to move when others move as well, to be able to exert maximum international pressure to stop this blockade and to help people in Gaza,” Mr Husic said.

Thousands of trucks packed with food and critical supplies have been parked on the Gaza border for weeks.

The process has been slow due to inspections and the threat of looting, according to Israeli authorities.

Benjamin Netanyahu last week said his government was committed to preventing starvation in Gaza but wanted to ensure aid could not be “looted” by Hamas.

The Israeli Prime Minister said his country’s military would set up secure “distribution points”.

But the plan has drawn ire from the international community.

Australia was among 23 countries that issued a joint statement saying the “proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required”.

Criticism has only intensified.

Mr Albanese on Monday condemned the trickling in of aid as “outrageous”.

“People are starving,” he told reporters.

“The idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage.

“That is my clear position. That is one I have indicated clearly and directly to the Israeli government.”

He also condemned Hamas, which triggered the war after raiding Israel on October 7, 2023, slaughtering Jewish men, women and children and taking hundreds hostage.

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation who should have no role in the future of Gaza or the West Bank,” Mr Albanese said.