Australia Endorses UN’s Ceasefire Resolution as Albanese Announces $10 Million Gaza Aid

Palestinians inspect the damage and debris a day after an operation by the Israeli Special Forces in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip on June 9, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Eyad Baba/Getty Images

Australia’s Prime Minister has voiced support for the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

On the same day, the Australian government announced an additional $10 million in funding to the World Food Programme to provide food assistance to Gaza civilians facing the risk of famine.

This extra funding brings Australia’s humanitarian assistance in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, to $72.5 million.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the ceasefire proposal, which was put forward by the United States in May and adopted by the UNSC, was “positive leadership” from the U.S.

The resolution called for a six-week ceasefire, the release of hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of the remains of dead hostages, and access to medical and other humanitarian needs for the hostages.

The resolution requires both Israel and Hamas to implement a “complete ceasefire.”

“It is a plan we fully support,” he told ABC Radio on June 12.

“We need to see an end to the conflict, we need to see the hostages released and we need to see a plan for the infrastructure and rebuilding of basic facilities there in Gaza.”

He noted that a long-term solution to address the crisis in Gaza “requires two states, Israel, and Palestine, with people being able to live in peace and security side by side, with prosperity able to be achieved.”

“That is something that we support, the United States supports, and the world through the United Nations has expressed support for.”

Wong Endorses Ceasefire Proposal

In a media release on June 12, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the fact that no country voted against the resolution “underlines the international community’s view that this war must end.”

She noted that Algeria, China, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom have supported the ceasefire resolution.

“The resolution again reiterates international commitment to a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders,” Mr. Wong said.

“Australia will continue to work with countries that support peace to press for agreement to this proposal. Any delay will only see more lives lost.

“Civilians must be protected, aid must flow at scale and hostages must be released.”

Additionally, Minister of Youth Affairs Anne Aly, Australia’s first female Muslim minister, is attending a special summit on the Gaza humanitarian crisis in Amman, Jordan.

Ms. Aly emphasised Australia’s ongoing support for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and address the humanitarian crisis.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic,” she said in a media release on June 10.

“Over one million Palestinians are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity and around 1.7 million people have been displaced, many several times over. Humanitarian access remains grossly inadequate.”