Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned that continued violence in Gaza risks leaving “no Palestine left to recognize,” as public anger grows over the humanitarian crisis.
Following a mass protest in Sydney, where hundreds of thousands rallied for a Gaza ceasefire, Wong said the government shares the public’s desire for peace but stopped short of announcing new actions like sanctions, Al Jazeera reported.
Australia has sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers and extremist settlers but has yet to recognize Palestinian statehood, despite growing international support for it. Wong reaffirmed that recognition is “a matter of when, not if.”
Prime Minister Albanese, who recently spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is seeking talks with Israeli PM Netanyahu, facing pressure to suspend arms trade and take a firmer stance, according to Al Jazeera.
