David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. Minister, in the last 24 hours, Israel has conducted what's known as a 'double-tap' attack on Nasser hospital in Gaza, striking first—the first military strike—and then hitting the facility again as journalists and rescue workers rushed to the scene to record the latest crime and to help those injured in the initial attack. Minister, will your government make it clear and call this latest obscene action from the Israeli military a war crime?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Shoebridge. This is a horrific attack and we condemn it, and we all should condemn it. Hospitals, health workers and civilians should be protected under international law. What I've said, very clearly, is Prime Minister Netanyahu should heed our call, and the call of the international community, and agree to a ceasefire. It is also the same call that his military is advising. This war must stop. In relation to your question, targeting hospitals is a breach of international law.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, first supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, thank you for that clarification. It is very clear that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his extremist security and war cabinet are not heading those calls, either the calls you've made or calls that any other country has made, to date, so will you now commit to applying the same sanctions regime against Israel that you have applied against Russia for its illegal war, its illegal occupation and its war crimes?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the senator would know, we have already applied sanctions on Israel, including on two Israeli ministers. We have worked with others in the international community to apply pressure, and you have seen Prime Minister Netanyahu's response. We all want this war to stop. We call on Israel to stop this war. Prime Minister Netanyahu should heed the advice of the IDF as well as the calls of the international community and agree to a ceasefire.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, a secondly supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, you repeatedly say that Prime Minister Netanyahu should heed those calls. He is not, and he is directing the military to continue these attacks, including using F-35 fighter jets, which can only remain in the air because of critical parts, including the mechanism that opens the bomb bay doors, that are supplied by Australian industry and that your government continues to permit to be sent to Israel to be part of the genocide and the killing and the bombing. Why won't you stop sending F-35 parts, and please do not repeat the non-lethal path statement. (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've responded to this question so many times; I refer you to the multiple previous answers. But I would say this to everyone in this Senate, including Senator Shoebridge: I would have thought we all want the war to end. That is what this government is working for. That is what we are advocating for. We want to see peace in the Middle East.