Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged the Israeli government and listed terror group Hamas to agree to a ceasefire deal outlined by US President Joe Biden.
She also warned that it would damage Australia’s national interest to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). It comes after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last month said Australia should consider withdrawing from the ICC after its top prosecutor requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allegedly committing war crimes during the war in Gaza.
Moments ago, Wong told Senate estimates hearings in Canberra it was important for Australia to be consistent in working to uphold the rules-based international order.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has rebuffed calls for Australia to leave the International Criminal Court after ICC prosecutors applied for arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“We do nothing to help make it happen by recklessly threatening to pull out of the bodies that uphold international law,” she said. “That kind of talk might sound tough, but it undermines Australia’s core security interests.
“For example, we cannot insist China abides by international legal decisions in the South China Sea, but threaten to pull out of the International Criminal Court.
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“We do nothing to shape the kind of region Australia needs by picking fights, blowing up relationships, or beating the drums of war.”
Wong described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic”, saying: “The death and destruction is horrific. This human suffering is unacceptable.”
Calling on Hamas to release hostages and Israel to allow more aid to flow into Gaza, Wong said that “we welcome the current ceasefire proposal from President Biden and we urge parties to agree to its terms”.
Biden last week said the first phase of the proposed deal would last for six weeks and would include a “full and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, with Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza.