Humanitarian access to Gaza 'not enough,' says Australia

ANKARA

Australia said on Wednesday that the humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip is "not enough," calling for safe passage for civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Expressing concern over "dire humanitarian situation" of Palestinians, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the human suffering in Gaza is "widespread."

"We have consistently called for safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, and safe passage for civilians," Wong said on X, adding: "There has been access in recent days but nowhere near enough."

She said Australia "calls for humanitarian pauses on hostilities so that food, water, medicine, and other essential assistance can reach people in desperate need, and civilian can get to safety."

Meanwhile, an Australian senator revealed that Canberra had approved 322 weapon permits to Israel in the last six years.

"The truth is just like with the exports to Israel, the Australian Government won't tell the public what the permits were actually for and don't track what is done with weapons sent from Australia into these countries where we know horrific human rights abuses are occurring," Greens Senator David Shoebridge said on X.

"The Australian government should be promoting peace, not fueling war," he added.

In a show of solidarity with suffering Palestinians, Sydney Canterbury-Bankstown council unanimously voted to fly the Palestinian flag.

Palestinian flag will be hoisted over Paul Keating Park in Bankstown and the Campsie administration building until a cease-fire is declared in Palestine, according to Australian media.

"The media often ask, do we condemn all acts of violence targeting civilians and of course we condemn terrorism and violence in any form," Labor Councilor Karl Saleh said.

Israel launched a relentless bombardment campaign on Gaza following a surprise attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, putting the enclave's residents under total siege and a blockade of food, fuel and medical supplies.

Nearly 7,200 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid