This statement follows Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration of intent to exert “full military control” over the Gaza Strip, which includes the densely populated center of Gaza City.

While visiting Queenstown, Albanese, alongside New Zealand’s leader Christopher Luxon, paid tribute to ANZAC soldiers by laying a wreath, amidst global concerns about how to prevent additional loss of life in the Middle East.

“The idea that it can just be continued is completely unacceptable,” Albanese said.

Tragically, a 15-year-old was killed in Gaza as humanitarian aid was being delivered. Simultaneously, in Tel Aviv, families of hostages still held by Hamas protested at Israel’s military office, fearing that further military action in Gaza might jeopardize the safety of their loved ones.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke criticized the notion that opposing Hamas requires harsh actions against Palestinians, labeling it a flawed strategy.

Andrew Hastie, opposition Home Affairs spokesperson, expressed skepticism over the effectiveness of any military occupation of Gaza, given its historical resistance to such control by Israel.

But no further sanctions are on the horizon.

“We have already sanctioned appropriate ministers,” Albanese said.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Australia was not supplying weapons to Israel.

The Albanese government, like many of Australia’s allies, seems destined to announce formal recognition of Palestine in the coming weeks.

America will not, limiting the impact of the allied approach.

Health officials said that 20 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead Saturday and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, as the growing international criticism of Israel came with pleas to allow far more food to reach people in the besieged enclave.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said the new adult deaths from malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours brought the total to 114 since it began counting such deaths in June. It said that 98 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, with militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.

The toll from hunger isn’t included in the ministry’s death toll of 61,300 Palestinians in the war. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, doesn’t distinguish between fighters or civilians, but says around half of the dead have been women and children. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties.

– Reported with Associated Press