Albanese government condemns Israel’s Gaza takeover plan claiming it could breach international law

Anthony Albanese has declared it is “completely unacceptable” for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to continue, as his senior ministers say Israel’s plans to occupy the territory would breach international law.

The Prime Minister is in New Zealand meeting his counterpart Christopher Luxon for talks that included a discussion of international moves towards recognising the state of Palestine.

Australia joined with the New Zealand, the UK, Germany and Italy to issue a foreign ministers statement on Saturday saying they “strongly reject” the Israeli security cabinet’s decision to launch a fresh military operation in Gaza, warning that it would “aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians”.

Mr Albanese said Australia would make its own decisions in terms of the timing of recognition and the possibility of further sanctions.

“We called for an immediate ceasefire. We called for the release of hostages and we called for the unimpeded entry of aid into Gaza,” he told reporters in New Zealand on Sunday.

“We have a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding there. And the idea that it can just be continued is completely unacceptable.”

Asked whether Australia would impose further sanctions on Israel beyond those already laid against two of its far-right ministers, Mr Albanese said his government would act where it could make a difference, not in response to “a slogan on a protest”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles echoed the calls for the return of the Israeli hostages and for the flow of aid into Gaza to resume, saying both aims would be helped by a ceasefire.

“All of that is best advanced, in terms of the return of hostages, but also in terms of the flow of humanitarian assistance, if hostilities cease now,” he told ABC’s Insiders.

“The blocking of food, the blocking of humanitarian assistance, is a breach of international law, and we are obviously deeply concerned about Israel’s role in that and it’s why we are really clearly calling for an end to hostilities right now and adding our voice to that of the international community.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said pointing out the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe should not be seen as making excuses for Hamas or having sympathy towards the terrorist group.

But he said Israel’s plans to fully occupy Gaza would be a breach of international law.

“And if they start doing what they’ve been doing with the West Bank and have settlers move in, that’s a further illegal action under international law,” he told Sky News.

“What we are watching is horrific, and Australia, with that statement yesterday, where we’re joining with other nations and just saying this must not happen.”

His shadow minister Andrew Hastie, a former special forces officer, said Israel’s plans were “a very risky proposition” that was likely to result in more military casualties and the prolonging of the humanitarian crisis.

“Certainly, I look at the weight of history, and Gaza has never successfully been occupied and pacified by Israel. So I’m not sure why we expect it to be any different now under Benjamin Netanyahu,” he told Sky News.

“I think we’ve just got to temper this with realism.”

He said it was “possible” the planned occupation would breach international law.