Israel’s ambassador to Australia says the third anniversary of October 7 is an opportunity for both countries to return to “traditional friendship”. But, in the lead-up to commemorations on Wednesday marking Hamas’ terror attack, leaders of Australia’s Palestinian community say the federal government should do more to help the diaspora suffering since the war on Gaza. Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Hillel Newman acknowledged relations had become “strained” between Australia and Israel but wanted to see improvement.
We can have differences of opinion, but we should not allow differences of opinion to overshadow and overcrowd the overall relationship. We can understand if Australia has criticism of this issue or another.” ome despite Israel’s foreign ministry publicly criticising foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, on social media in recent weeks, branding comments she made to the United Nations about settler violence in the West Bank a “blatant lie”. It follows an earlier intervention into domestic Australian politics, where Israel urged Labor to soften criticism in a draft policy platform that condemned settler violence and a controversial death penalty law.
Since the 2023 attack – in which Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and 250 people were taken hostage, in what is considered the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust – there has been a near breakdown in ties between the Israeli government and federal Labor. Israel’s response to the attack and bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians. Australia has joined other countries in taking an increasingly stronger stance against Israel, including action alongside the UK, Canada and New Zealand to sanction Israeli politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing the two of inciting violence against Palestinians.
But the federal government last month stopped short of joining the UK and other partners in imposing a ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Relations deteriorated further when Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed in a humanitarian convoy struck by Israeli drones in April 2024. Albanese and Wong slammed a decision by the Israel Defense Forces in August not to pursue criminal proceedings over Frankcom’s death.
Pressed on Israel’s failure to release audio from the strike, Newman stressed it was an issue for the Israeli military, but that his country remained open to any request for potential reparations for Frankcom’s family and remained in favour of continued discussions. Wong has been working with the Frankcom family on an appropriate response to the decision not to press criminal charges. She said in a statement that the Australian government had condemned the Israeli government’s decision not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.
We continue to engage closely with the Frankcom family on further action,” Wong said. We mourn those who were killed in the Hamas terrorist attacks, including Australian Galit Carbone, and all those who have suffered from antisemitic violence around the world.” The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president, Nasser Mashni, said the impact from three years’ of war was measured in two places at once: Gaza and in the diaspora. Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide.
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