Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Against last week's anniversary of the tragic port explosion in Beirut, which we marked here in this chamber, Hezbollah chose to launch a number of rocket attacks into Israel. Israel made proportionate responses. Hezbollah's use of villages as human shields is against international law, and in this regard the courageous actions of Lebanese civilians to stop one of the Hezbollah mobile rocket launchers from escaping is worthy of public recognition. This action resulted in the arrest of the terrorists.

Iran's well-documented supply of funds and weapons to terror organisations like the Hamas brigades, Islamic Jihad and others fuels instability and violence, and Australia joins international calls for Iran to also cease the abuses of human rights inside Iran, particularly the persecution of religious minorities, including the Baha'i, Sunni Muslims, Christians and Zoroastrians, amongst others.