Gaza war: Anthony Albanese mourns loss of ‘every innocent life’ in Israel conflict

Anthony Albanese has used a major speech to again mourn the loss of every innocent life in the Middle East and double down on calls for a two-state solution as the “ultimate goal” in resolving the conflict.

But the Prime Minister says there must be no role for Hamas in future arrangements.

Delivering the annual Lowy Lecture, Mr Albanese noted the recent pause in hostility in Gaza had allowed for the release of more than 100 Israeli hostages and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“Australia wants to see this pause resumed and we support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire,” he said.

“We have said all along, this cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages – immediately and unconditionally. It must stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.

“There can be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza – and Gaza must not be used as a future platform for terrorism.”

Last week, Australia joined 152 countries to support a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict.

It did not mention the Hamas attack, although Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Australia’s ambassador to the UN have said they would have preferred it did.

Australia abstained from a previous vote on a similar resolution.

Mr Albanese said on Tuesday that Australia had taken “the same principled approach to the crisis in the Middle East” as it did on sticking by Ukraine and promoting the right of every sovereign nation to be secure within its borders.

“Like every other nation that has benefited from this framework of freedoms and fairness, Australia has a responsibility to uphold it and defend it,” he said.

“None of us should abandon hope in the ultimate goal: a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living securely and prosperously within internationally-recognised borders.”

Australia recognised Israel’s right to defend itself and the way it did so mattered, Mr Albanese said, which was why his Government had urged the nation to continue upholding international humanitarian law.

“From the moment we learned of those horrific attacks on October 7th, our Government has condemned Hamas and called for the release of all hostages,” he said.

“We mourn the loss of every innocent life in this conflict: Israeli and Palestinian. Because every innocent life matters.

“We will continue to make it clear there is no place for prejudice or hatred, anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, here in our society.”

The comments echo a fiery speech Mr Albanese made in Parliament a month ago, where he said he stood with Jewish Australians who were fearful at the moment and with Islamic and Arab Australians who were being threatened.

“I’m opposed to any innocent life being lost, whether it be as a result of the terrorism of Hamas in Israel – those dreadful occasions – (and) I’m against innocent babies being killed in Gaza,” he told Parliament.

Earlier on Tuesday, 200 current and former politicians issued a joint statement calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and “just and lasting peace” and called on the Government “to recognise Palestine as a state that is entitled to be free of occupation”.

The majority of the signatories were Greens politicians across local, state and federal parliaments.

They also include Labor WA senator Fatima Payman and MP maria Vamvakinou, as well as former foreign minister Bob Carr and Gareth Evans.

This year’s lecture marks the 20th anniversary of Holocaust survivor and businessman Frank Lowy founding the Lowy Institute to give Australia a greater voice in the world.