Foreign Minister Penny Wong renews Australia’s commitment to the two-state solution in Palestine and Israel as hostilities continue in Gaza.
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00:00As you know, the Albanese government has consistently advocated for a ceasefire for
00:04the release of hostages and the protection of civilians, the upholding of international
00:10law and the unhindered flow of aid.
00:13And we have also consistently advocated for a two-state solution.
00:18This is the only outcome which keeps faith with the imperative of the existence of Israel
00:23and its long-term security that fulfils also the world's promise to the Palestinian people
00:30and that enables two peoples to live in peace.
00:33It strengthens the force for peace and undermines extremism and it is the opposite of what Hamas
00:38wants.
00:40We know that Hamas can have no role in a future Palestinian state.
00:44We believe a two-state solution is the only way to end the cycle of violence and, regrettably,
00:50it is also clear that the Netanyahu government rejects it.
00:54This is clear from its devastating military campaign in Gaza, civilians being killed by
00:58the thousands, children starving.
01:02And it is also clear from policies including rampant settlement construction and impunity
01:09for settler violence in the West Bank.
01:12Like Israel's military expansion in Gaza, illegal settlements and impunity for settler violence
01:16in the West Bank are extinguishing the prospects of a two-state solution.
01:21Now I know that Australians feel frustrated.
01:24I know that people feel like we have little chance of moving the dial on our own, but this
01:28has never meant we can do nothing.
01:30What it does mean is we do what we can by working with partners and that is what we have done.
01:35We do the work of building coalitions with other countries because when Australia acts,
01:40we then act with impact.
01:44Together with our partners, Australia has opposed Israel's humanitarian blockade and expansion
01:48of military operations in Gaza.
01:51And together with our partners, we have opposed the expansion of settlements in the West Bank
01:54like those announced by the Netanyahu government just a couple of weeks ago.
01:59And together with our partners, we have imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers for their violence
02:03against Palestinians.
02:05So far, the Netanyahu government has ignored this international opposition.
02:11Now just as when we applied those sanctions previously, and just as when we applied sanctions
02:15against Hamas for their terrorism, Australia never speculates about possible future sanctions.
02:21We apply them without warning because that makes them harder to evade.
02:26And overnight we have done that.
02:29Australia has applied targeted financial sanctions and travel bans to two senior ministers in the
02:34Israeli government, ministers Ben-Gavir and Smotrich, for their role in serious human rights violations
02:42and abuses relating to Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.
02:47They are the most extreme proponents of the unlawful and violent settlement enterprise.
02:53And we have applied those measures with others.
02:55We have applied those measures in coordination with Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United
03:00Kingdom.
03:01This action is the result of many months of effort and coordination.
03:06And together, these countries are sending a message.
03:08You have ignored the international community and we do not tolerate it.
03:13The situation in the West Bank and the situation in Gaza are untenable both for civilians and long-term
03:19and peace in the form of a two-state solution.