The international community must unite to ensure rules of war are followed as conflict intensifies in the Middle East, Australia’s foreign minister will tell the United Nations (UN).
Penny Wong will make the comments in Australia’s national statement to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Beyond hostilities in the Middle East, her speech also references Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, and Yemen.
“War has rules—every country in this room must abide by them,” she will say.
“Even when confronting terrorists ... even when defending borders ... no state should pretend the rules don’t apply to them.
“Israel must comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.”
The world’s inability to end global conflicts has been partially due to countries not abiding by the rules of war, Wong contends.
“We must remember why we built this institution,” she will say.
“The UN system is where the world comes together to agree and uphold standards and rules; to protect all of the world’s peoples and the sovereignty of all nations.
“These rules always matter - never more so than in times of conflict—when they help guide us out of darkness, back toward light, back on a path towards peace, stability and prosperity.”
Moving the dial on the trend will require a unified effort by the international community, including through the UN.
“We must rally to defend these rules that protect us all; these rules that form the character of the world that we want,” the minister will say.
“The international community—including the Security Council—must work together to pave a path to lasting peace.
“The world cannot keep hoping the parties will do this themselves; we cannot allow any party to obstruct the prospect of peace.”
Senator Wong’s address follows the Israel’s expanded attacks beyond Gaza’s borders and into Lebanon, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep hitting designated terrorist group Hezbollah with “full force.”
More than 600 people have been killed in the strikes on Lebanon and Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed almost 42,000 people, according to Lebanese and Gaza health authorities.
This followed a deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 which killed more than 1200 people and resulted in more than 200 others being taken hostage.
