NEW YORK CITY: Australia has urged the international community to take decisive steps towards establishing a Palestinian state, emphasizing that “77 years later, that Palestinian state still does not exist.”
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that Israel must adhere to the binding orders of the International Court of Justice to ensure the delivery of essential services and large-scale humanitarian aid in Gaza.
In her speech, she highlighted the need for all nations to contribute to innovative solutions to break the cycle of conflict.
She condemned Israeli extremist settlers, announcing that Australia would deny visas to individuals identified as extremist settler to travel Australia. The minister stressed that the nation is committed to promoting momentum for a two-state solution, which she believes is the only viable path to peace and prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon, she noted that it has been nearly 300 days since Australia and 152 other countries voted for a cease-fire resolution. The ongoing violence has resulted in severe casualties, with over 700 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured in Lebanon alone since the latest escalation began.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the overall death toll in Lebanon since last October has reached 1,540, with over 77,000 people displaced from southern and eastern regions. Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza has claimed more than 41,500 lives, predominantly among women and children.
As tensions escalate, the international community has expressed concern that the violence could spiral into a broader regional conflict.
