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Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has begun a tour of the Middle East, in support of attaining a ceasefire and restarting peace processes in the region.
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Minister Wong announced she will travel to Jordan, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and the United Arab Emirates from 15 January to support international diplomatic efforts towards a durable peace in the Middle East.
Australia is one of 152 countries to have voted for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, under a UN resolution for the protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations.
Minister Wong, joined by Australia’s humanitarian coordinator on the trip, said Australia would advocate for a halt to the current Israel-Hamas conflict, as the confrontation passes 100 since the 7 October terror attacks in Israel.
“I will use Australia’s voice to advocate for a pathway out of the current conflict, an increase in vital humanitarian assistance, upholding of international law, and greater protection for civilians, preventing regional escalation, and working toward a lasting peace,” she said.
“I will convey Australia’s support for Israel’s security and its right to defend itself in the face of terrorism, while stressing that the way it does so matters. I will reaffirm Australia’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and meet with the families of hostages and survivors of the terror attacks on October 7.
“I will make clear Australia’s support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination and commitment to meeting humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank with officials in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“I will also emphasise Australia’s opposition to the forcible displacement of Palestinians and our view that Gaza must no longer be used as a platform for terrorism.
“Australia is committed to working with partners toward a just and enduring peace in the form of a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders.”
Minister Wong said she will meet with “bridge-building” leadership in Jordan, negotiators for a possible comprehensive economic partnership agreement in the United Arab Emirates, Australian Defence Force personnel stationed in the UAE as well as representatives of communities affected by settler violence.
Minister Wong ruled out visiting the site of the 7 October attacks in Israel; however, she confirmed there will be meetings with survivors of the attacks and families of hostages.
“Australia is not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice, and I’ll be using our voice to advocate for a pathway out of this conflict,” Foreign Minister Wong said during a doorstop interview in Adelaide on 15 January.
“We all know that that pathway can only be found by the parties to the conflict. I will be focusing on advocating Australia’s position, our priority on international humanitarian assistance, our priority on international humanitarian law.
“These meetings are about engaging with a wide cross section of perspectives and parties in the region and to put Australia’s view, but also to listen, and it is an opportunity to do that.
“When I first announced our international humanitarian assistance for Gaza, I made clear that we were open and willing to provide further assistance, and that remains our position.
“In our efforts to use our voice to advocate for a pathway out of this conflict, we have made very clear that one of the priorities must be to avoid regional escalation and that sort of violence, as Secretary Blinken has pointed out, attacking Palestinians where they have a right to be, is the wrong thing to do, and certainly not conducive to ensuring there isn’t escalation.”
“Our position is that we want to see a sustainable ceasefire and that we see an international humanitarian, immediate humanitarian ceasefire as a step towards that. No ceasefire can be one sided and no ceasefire can be unconditional. And so our position will be to advocate that. I will however say, I think there is increasing concern about the protection of civilian lives and we will continue to express those views to our partners.
“We, like the United States, have made clear that, one, Hamas has no place in the future governance of Gaza. But two, that we need to see governance arrangements in Gaza which are consistent with our position on a two-state solution and our position remains that.”
