Wong Urges Israel to Abandon Gaza City Takeover Plan, Warns of Legal Violations

The opposition has warned that Hamas must be removed before there can be peace.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks at a press conference with the Indo-Pacific Quad at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2025. Allison Robbert/ AFP via Getty Images

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Israel to abandon its plan to fully occupy Gaza City.

“Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” Wong said in a statement shared with The Epoch Times.

Wong’s comments came minutes after the Israeli cabinet confirmed it would proceed with a military takeover of Gaza City.

Earlier Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel intended to take “security control” of the territory. However, he added that they don’t want to be there as a governing body.

“We want to have a security perimetre,” he said.

Wong said forced displacement of the population would be a violation of international law.

“With international partners, Australia maintains our call for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and aid to flow unimpeded. A two-state solution is the only pathway to secure an enduring peace—a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security within internationally-recognised borders,” she added.

Her colleague, Labor’s Environment Minister Murray Watt also “strongly opposed” the idea of any forced occupation or displacement of Palestinians.

“We’re calling on the parties to reach an immediate ceasefire and we want to see the impediments to aid into Gaza removed, as well as the hostages being released,” Watt said at a press conference in Sydney.

More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, since Israel’s campaign began in response to Hamas’s surprise Oct. 7 2023 attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage.

Nearly 200 Palestinians, including many children, have also reportedly died of starvation, according to the ministry.

Opposition Says Hamas Needs to be Removed

Shadow Industry Minister Alex Hawke said the federal opposition backed Israel’s right to act in self-defence, but said the civilian cost was concerning.

“Israel as a state has a right to defend its citizens and its border,” Hawke told ABC Radio National.

“Until Hamas is removed, it will be very difficult for there to be a legitimate government in a place like Gaza,” he added.

“The ongoing loss of life is terrible to all civilised countries, however, that is war, and that is what is happening, a war is happening between a terrorist organisation and a state,” he said.

Jewish Leader Says Hamas Must Be Defeated

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin welcomed Netanyahu’s remarks, saying defeating Hamas was essential.

“When you have a situation where Hamas refuses to lay down its arms, refuses to release the hostages, refuses the ceasefire that’s been on the table since the end of May, it leaves no choice but to complete the job militarily,” he told ABC radio.

Ryvchin said he believed Australia would recognise a Palestinian state soon, alongside Canada, France and the UK.

“Australia has bound itself to the Canadians and the French and the British, and all sides point to that (happening),” he said.

The three G7 nations are expected to push for recognition of Palestine at the U.N. General Assembly in September, contingent on the return of remaining hostages.

Two days ago Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed Gaza over a phone call and reaffirmed support for humanitarian aid and a two-state solution.