‘Abandoning Our Friends’: Senator Raises Concerns After Australia Supports UN Ceasefire Call

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel, on Oct. 8, 2023. Amir Cohen/Reuters

Coalition Senator Dave Sharma has questioned Labor’s decision to vote for a United Nations call for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, claiming Australia is “abandoning our friends.”

Australia voted in favour of the U.N. emergency call for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the ”immediate and unconditional release of all hostages“ while ”ensuring humanitarian access.”

This motion passed with a majority but did not mention Hamas at all. In fact, two amendments that referred to Hamas were voted down by the majority of members. Australia’s support for the motion broke ranks with allies the United States and the United Kingdom.

Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping women and children, leading to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring “We are at war.” Since then, more than 18,000 Palestinians have reported being killed on the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel and federal member for Wentworth, raised concerns about Australia’s support for the U.N. motion.

In a post to social media, he drew attention to the fact that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had issued a joint statement with the prime ministers of Canada and New Zealand that recognised Hamas, only to then support the U.N. resolution.

Mr. Sharma said the Labor government is “completely at sea on this issue, at odds with itself, failing to stand up for important points of principle and abandoning our friends.”

“Early today PM Albanese issued a joint statement with the leaders of Canada and New Zealand that condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, called for immediate release of all hostages, recognised Israel’s right to defend itself (and) demanded no future role for Hamas and Gaza,” Mr Sharma said.

“Two hours later foreign minister Wong instructed Australian diplomats in New York to vote for a UN General Assembly Resolution that omitted almost every one of these requirements.”

Mr. Albanese released a joint statement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Dec. 13.

The statement condemned Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, the appalling loss of life, and the heinous acts of violence perpetrated in those attacks, including sexual violence.

“We condemn Hamas’ unacceptable treatment of hostages and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages,” the statement said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong noted Australia’s support for the United Nations resolution in a press conference in Adelaide on Dec. 13.

“This resolution, which we have supported, is a call for immediate humanitarian ceasefire. This is the world coming together to urge that these pauses be resumed so civilians can get the humanitarian aid they desperately need. Australia is part of that call, and we supported this resolution,” Ms. Wong said.

Overall 153 countries voted for the U.N. call, 10 were against it, and 23 countries abstained from the motion.

However, Ms. Wong noted Australia would have preferred if the call for a ceasefire had mentioned the Hamas attack on Israel.

“We obviously would have preferred that the resolution makes reference to the 7 October attack perpetrated by Hamas on innocent civilians, and we support an amendment moved to that effect,” Ms. Wong said.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) speaks as he sits next to Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong in Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Dec. 7, 2023. Hilary Wardhaugh/AFP via Getty Images

“Australia continues to condemn the ongoing acts of terror by Hamas, its use of human shields, its use of civilian infrastructure to launch attacks on Israel.

“We again reiterate our demand, which is reflected in the resolution, that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately and unconditionally.”

The U.S., Israel, Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay voted against the call for an immediate “humanitarian ceasefire.”

Meanwhile, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Argentina, Malawi, the Netherlands, Ukraine, South Sudan, and Uruguay abstained.

Countries that voted for the motion included China, Chile, Columbia, Afghanistan, Ireland, India, Iran, Iraq, France, Finland, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Qatar, Spain, South Africa, Poland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and more.

Australia, Canada, New Zealand Joint Statement

The joint statement between the prime ministers of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada mourned every Israeli and Palestinian innocent life that has been lost in the conflict and expressed condolences to all families and communities impacted by the violence.

In addition to condemning Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel, including the violence, it also recognised Israel’s right to defend itself.

“We recognise Israel’s right to exist and right to defend itself. In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza. The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians,” the statement said.

“We want to see this pause resumed and support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms. There is no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.”