Emergency humanitarian talks in the Middle East will involve Australia after the “horrifying massacring” of people in Gaza.
Early Childhood Education Minister Dr Anne Aly will travel to Amman this week to join an international conference being hosted by Egypt, Jordan and the United Nations.
Human rights groups have condemned the loss of Palestinian life following a rescue mission which freed four Israeli hostages captured by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack.
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Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 270 people were killed and almost 700 wounded after the Israeli military operation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Aly would bring her professional expertise and knowledge through her experience as an Egyptian-born Australian to represent the nation.
“The human suffering in Gaza is unacceptable,” she said on Monday.
“Australia has been part of the international push for a ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to reach Gazans in desperate need, and for hostages to be released.
“Australia’s participation in this conference is part of that international effort.”
Aly said the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “catastrophic”.
“Our participation in this conference will emphasise Australia’s ongoing support for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and to address the humanitarian crisis,” she said.
Oxfam’s Middle East regional director Sally Abi Khalil said she welcomed the return of the hostages to their families after eight months in captivity.
“However, the horrifying massacring by Israel of at least 274 displaced and starving Palestinians during the operation to release the hostages was an unacceptable and unconscionable price to pay,” she said.
“This apparently indiscriminate killing may amount to a war crime and must also be investigated.”
Hamas’ armed al-Qassam Brigades said in a video posted on its Telegram channel that three hostages were killed, including a US citizen, during the operation.
The group did not release the names of those said to be killed, but the video showed what appeared to be three unidentifiable corpses using censor bars over their faces.
An Israeli military spokesman called the claims a “blatant lie”.
Israeli minister Benny Gantz announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government on Sunday, withdrawing the only centrist power in the embattled leader’s nationalist-religious coalition.
Netanyahu issued a brief statement calling on Gantz not to “abandon the front” but his departure will not endanger the parliamentary majority of 64 seats in the 120-seat Knesset held by the ruling coalition.
More than 37,000 people in Gaza have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas in retaliation for the militants’ October 7 attack.
Hamas killed 1200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages in the assault.
