Wong sends message to Israeli ambassador after 'catastrophe' near Gaza aid trucks

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has asked her department to tell the Israeli ambassador Australia is “horrified” at reports that Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza, killing more than 100.

“Australia is horrified by today’s catastrophe in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has led to it,” Senator Wong said in a social media post.

“These events underscore why for months Australia has been calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Civilians must be protected. Humanitarian aid must reach civilians in desperate need.”

Israel has disputed the account of health authorities in Gaza, saying the aid truck had been surrounded by hundreds of people and in the confusion many were trampled or run over.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said the incident took place in the northern part of the enclave, which has been largely isolated during the conflict.

Trucks carrying food reached northern Gaza this week, the first major aid delivery to the area in a month, officials said on Wednesday.

Senator Wong said the government was providing $46.5 million in humanitarian assistance and would announce “additional urgent support… in coming days.”

But the government has currently paused funding of $6 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which co-ordinates aid in Gaza, after Israel alleged 12 of the agency’s 13,000 staff played a part in the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, or otherwise had links to Hamas.

Other countries including the United States and the United Kingdom have also paused their funding.

This pause has not affected UNRWA’s on-the-ground operations yet due to existing funding, but UNRWA says its operation would collapse by the end of March if funding is not restored.

In early February, Senator Wong revealed she had sought evidence from Israel to substantiate the claims about the 12 staff members but had not received it, acknowledging she was not in possession of all the evidence.

She has indicated a desire to get to the bottom of the matters by the end of March.