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Foreign Minister Penny Wong says “urgent action” is needed to stop and prevent further starvation in Gaza as suffering reaches “unimaginable levels”.
Wong has signed a joint statement with counterparts from 25 other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, calling on Israel to “provide authorisation” for humanitarian groups to operate in Gaza safely.
“Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected,” the letter, also signed by three European Union representatives, reads.
The United Nations says since 27 May, at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food — 859 in the vicinity of the United States and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites and 514 along the routes of food convoys.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City have intensified in recent days, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet approving plans to expand the war there.
‘We need a ceasefire’
The joint statement calls for a ceasefire to end the war and to continue efforts to secure peace in the region.
“We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered,” it reads.
“All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment.”
Israel late last month announced steps to let more aid into the enclave, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.
White House responds to Australia’s recognition plans
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined other countries in announcing Australia will recognise a Palestinian state in September as part of a two-state solution.
A White House official has told Australian media that US President Donald Trump is “not married to any one solution” on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“As the president stated, he would be rewarding Hamas if he recognises a Palestinian state, and he doesn’t think they should be rewarded. So he is not going to do that,” the official told Nine newspapers.
What is happening in Gaza City?
Israel has since said it will launch a new offensive and seize control of Gaza City, which it captured shortly after the war’s escalation in October 2023, before pulling out.
The Israeli government has not provided an exact timetable on when its forces would enter the area, but according to the civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal, airstrikes on Gaza City have been increasing for the past three days.
Bassal said the residential neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Sabra have been hit “with very heavy airstrikes targeting civilian homes, possibly including high-rise buildings”.
“For the third consecutive day, the Israeli occupation is intensifying its bombardment,” he said.
“The Israeli occupation is using all types of weapons in that area — bombs, drones, and also highly explosive munitions that cause massive destruction to civilian homes.”
Bassal said at least 24 people had been killed across Gaza on Tuesday, including several casualties caused by strikes on Gaza City.
“The bombardment has been extremely intense for the past two days. With every strike, the ground shakes. There are martyrs under the rubble that no one can reach because the shelling hasn’t stopped,” said Majed al-Hosary, a resident in Zeitoun.
Israeli officials have denied that starvation is occurring in Gaza, blaming Hamas for the hunger among Palestinians and saying a lot of aid has been distributed.
Over 100 children reportedly die from starvation
Five more people, including two children, have died of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the territory’s health ministry said.
The new deaths raised the number of deaths from the same causes to 227, including 103 children, since the war escalated, it added.
Israel disputes the malnutrition fatality figures reported by the health ministry in Gaza.
The crisis in Gaza escalated after Hamas-led militants stormed over the border into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, left much of the enclave in ruins and wrought a humanitarian disaster with grave shortages of food, drinking water and safe shelter, according to Palestinian health officials.
Netanyahu, whose far-right ultranationalist coalition allies want an outright Israeli takeover and re-settlement of Gaza, has vowed the war will not end until Hamas is eradicated.
