Ceasefire Would Benefit Hamas: Former Australian PM Warns

Smoke in the Gaza Strip as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Amir Cohen/Reuters

Australia’s former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has joined ex-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a solidarity trip to Israel.

The leaders toured Israeli towns struck by Hamas on Oct. 7, including Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where Israeli residents were murdered or taken hostage.

While in Israel, Mr. Morrison was asked if he supported Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position that there would be no ceasefire until all hostages were released.

“I don’t support a ceasefire,” he told Nine News reporters in Israel.

“A ceasefire would simply advantage Hamas to be able to strengthen their positions and make this awful war go on for even longer.”

The Israeli prime minister has made it clear there will not be any ceasefire until Israeli hostages are released.

“I want you to know there’s one thing that we won’t do, there won’t be a ceasefire without the return of our hostages, take it completely out of the lexicon,” he said during a media conference overnight.

“We say it to our enemies and to our friends, and we'll simply carry on until we win. We don’t have an alternative”

Mr. Netanyahu had previously told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, “We are continuing full force and that Israel refuses a temporary cease-fire that does not include the return of hostages.”

U.S. President Joe Biden and Mr. Blinken have pushed for a temporary pause in the Israel-Hamas war to help provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

‘Moral Fog’: Boris Johnson

Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Johnson has raised concerns about pro-Palestine rallies taking place around the world.

The former leader said he was in Israel to show support and stand in solidarity with Israel after the “worst atrocity, the worst massacre” of the Jewish people since the Second World War.

Since then, Mr. Johnson said a “moral fog” had descended and he wanted to be clear on his position that Israel had a right to defend itself.

“I would say to everybody marching across the world right now, supposedly in support of ‘Free Palestine,’ in fact what they are doing, whether they intend it or not, is condoning the brutality and the murder that was conducted by those Hamas terrorists—and which, by the way, they would do again,” Mr. Johnson said on Channel 12 news in Israel.

“And that is why it is so important that Israel is given the time and the space to do what it needs to do—to catch the murderers and to make sure that they can’t do it again.”

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) and former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the garden of 10 Downing Street, after agreeing the broad terms of a free trade deal between the UK and Australia, on June 15, 2021 in London, England.  Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Current Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to visit Israel and is currently in Beijing for a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

However, Mr. Albanese did speak with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu last week.

In a press conference, Mr. Albanese said Israel has a right to defend itself, and that his government wanted to see all innocent lives protected.

The Australian leader said “Every life matters. Every Israeli, every Palestinian,” elaborating that innocent people were impacted in Israel and Palestine.

“We continue to urge for all civilians to be protected, for the international rule of law to be applied,” Mr. Albanese said.

Blinken Travels to Israel and the West Bank

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has travelled to the West Bank, meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The U.S. leader said he met with President Abbas and affirmed the U.S.’s commitment to the delivery of essential services to Gaza. Mr. Blinken also reaffirmed U.S. support for a two-state solution, and that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must end.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) during a meeting ahead of Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations in Brisbane, Australia on July 28, 2023. AAP Image/Pool, Pat Hoelscher

The secretary also met with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Crown Prince Al Hussein regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“We remain committed to working towards a durable and sustainable peace in the region, including the establishment of a Palestinian state,” Mr. Blinken said.

Mr. Blinken also met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, reiterating U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

While in Israel, the secretary also met with President Isaac Herzog, Minister Benny Gantz, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.

Further, in Iraq, Mr. Blinken met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, where he had a “candid, important conversation.” This included discussions on how to ensure the conflict in Gaza did not “escalate.”