https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-02/government-warns-israel-to-observe-rules-...Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declares Palestinian lives matter too,
as government urges Israel to observe rules of war
By political reporter Nour Haydar
Posted 11h ago
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared that every Palestinian and Israeli life matters while expressing concern about the climbing civilian death toll in Gaza, as the federal government sharpens its language in urging Israel to abide by international law.
Key points:
The prime minister says Israel in its efforts to destroy Hamas must maintain the rules of war
The foreign minister says the international community will not tolerate more innocent deaths
The government continues to work to help dozens of Australians leave Gaza
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday added the "international community will not accept ongoing civilian deaths", saying Israel must observe the rules of war.
The government maintains Israel has a "right to defend itself", but Mr Albanese emphasised that it also has a responsibility to ensure innocent civilians are not paying the price for atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7.
"The civilian toll is quite rightly causing enormous concern around the world," he said at a conference in Melbourne on Thursday.
"Every Palestinian life matters, like every Israeli life matters.
"Every effort has to be made to ensure that innocent civilians are protected to every extent possible.
"It is very difficult because of the way that Hamas operates with the use of civilian infrastructure being mixed with what is effectively military infrastructure … but every single effort has to be made."
The number of people killed in Gaza since Israel began its bombing campaign 26 days ago has exceeded 8,700, including more than 3,600 children killed according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Israeli said Hamas killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, while taking more than 200 people hostage last month.
Gaza officials say at least 195 Palestinians were killed in the two Israeli attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp this week, with 120 missing under the rubble and hundred more wounded.
Israel said the two strikes killed Hamas military leaders while claiming "terror infrastructure" was built beneath civilian buildings in the area.
Mr Albanese said the images from the refugee camp have "quite rightly" caused "enormous concern" while revealing that he had this week met with Australians who had family members killed in the besieged territory.
"I met with people yesterday afternoon, who have lost family members in Gaza," he said.
"They are quite right to be traumatised and want their government to speak up for them just as the government has spoken up for the loss of Israeli lives and for the families concerned about hostages and the consequences of Hamas's atrocities."