Australia has backed an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza while rebuking Israel’s attempt to block a key aid agency from working in the Palestinian territories in overnight votes at the United Nations that toughen its stance on the Middle East war.
As the Australia-Israel relationship frays following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public condemnation of the Albanese government, Australia joined countries including the United Kingdom and New Zealand on Thursday to vote in favour of the two resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly.
Young Palestinians walk amid rubble of destroyed buildings at a neighbourhood in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, in early December.Credit: AP
But the federal government drew criticism from the Coalition, which has called for Australia to follow the United States in siding with Israel as it accuses Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of fuelling homegrown antisemitismfollowing two …