Gaza: Australia votes in favour of United Nations Relief and Works Agency ceasefire

Australia has joined more than 150 countries at the United Nations to vote in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza and to support the mandate of humanitarian relief agency UNRWA.

The vote to back an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and call for a reversal of Israel’s decision to ban the main UN aid agency operating in the war-torn Gaza Strip was opposed by the US but backed by Canberra’s other Five Eyes allies, the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

The Emergency Special Session of the New York-based assembly also urged the release of remaining Israeli hostages who were seized by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the upholding of international humanitarian law to protect civilians and a push towards peace and a two-state solution.

The two votes did not change the Australian government’s long held positions on calling for a ceasefire, backing the humanitarian work of UNRWA, and advocating for a two-state solution.

But it comes at a time of increased tensions in Australia over accusations that the Government has acted too slowly to tackle a rise in anti-Semitism, and amid intensified scrutiny of Australia’s position on the Middle East.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last weekend tied Labor’s “anti-Israel attitude” to the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue – an accusation the Government vehemently rejects.

His comments followed a recent UN vote where Australia joined 156 other countries to demand Israel end its “unlawful presence” in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Government has also previously come under fire for its support of UNRWA after it was revealed that at least nine of its employees took part in the October 7 attacks on Israel.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the Government’s approach to the latest votes following a visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum on Wednesday to announce an $8.5 million fund for upgrades.

“There’s no change to Australia’s position. Australia’s position is we support a two-state solution..The right of Israel to exist in secure borders,” he said, underscoring the need for all hostages to be released.

“There’s no role for Hamas in any future Palestinian state. But over a period of time along with a range of other countries, the United States has been attempting to advance the issue of a long-term solution that would involve the engagement of states in the region as well, all recognising Israel.”

Asked about the reason for the Government’s support of the resolutions on ABC Radio National Breakfast, Anne Aly, Minister for Youth, said: “We need to find a resolution and a pathway to peace in the Middle East, and particularly in Israel and Gaza, for the safety of Palestinians and for the safety and the security and the future of Israelis as well.”

But shadow minister for home affairs James Paterson accused the Prime Minister of “gas lighting” the Australian Jewish Community.

“One of the reasons why this is important is not just because our foreign policy is important, not just because standing with our allies and friends like the United States is important, but because we know that anti-Semites in Australia conflate Israel with Jews” he told Sky News.

“We had another powerful demonstration of that this week in Sydney where cars in an area populated by the Jewish community were set on fire and graffiti targeted Israel. They don’t draw any distinction between Israel and Jews,” he said.

“So when the Australian government abandons or even worse, vilifies Israel, anti-Semites take encouragement from that and that gives them license and that’s why it’s a serious problem.”