Israel must abide by ICJ orders: Australia tells UN

ANKARA

Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Israel must comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza.

Addressing the UN General Assembly late Friday in New York, Wong said that despite the General Assembly resolution passing 77 years, the Palestinian state still does not exist.

"77 years later, that Palestinian state still does not exist," she said, adding the world cannot wait.

She said that all countries must contribute to new ways to break the cycle of conflict.

Talking about the Israeli extremist settlers, she said that her country sanctioned them and will deny anyone identified as an extremist settler a visa to travel to Australia.

"Australia wants to engage on new ways to build momentum, including the role of the Security Council in setting a pathway for two states, with a clear timeline for the international declaration of Palestinian statehood," she added.

"Because a two-state solution is the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence – the only hope to see a secure and prosperous future for both peoples," the Australian top diplomat said.

She called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon and said it is now nearly 300 days since Australia and 152 other countries voted for a cease-fire.

Israel has pounded Lebanon since Monday morning, killing over 700 people and injuring nearly 2,200 others, according to figures released by the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The ministry also said that the death toll in Lebanon since last October is 1,540, in addition to more than 77,000 displaced from southern and eastern parts of the country.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 41,500 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last Oct. 7.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of turning the Gaza conflict into a regional war.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid