Building, keeping peace in Gaza ‘hard’, foreign minister says
Australia’s top diplomat has vowed that Canberra will continue to support Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan even though building and maintaining peace “will be difficult”.
In line with the Senate’s predictions on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Penny Wong was asked whether she had “any hope” that the Islamist group Hamas would cede control of Gaza; Liberal senator Sarah Henderson said the Alban government had adopted a lone wolf approach to the war-torn Palestinian territories.
He was also asked at what point the Albanian government would “withdraw recognition of the Palestinian state” if Hamas does not give up control, as this is a prerequisite for recognition.
“This is a regional and multilateral process,” Senator Wong replied.
“Our position that Hamas should not be given any role is reflected not only in the peace plan approved by President Trump and Arab and other nations, but also in the UN Security Council resolution.
“Therefore, our position is in line with the weight of the international community.”
“There is much work to be done in the region to establish sustainable peace, establish governance arrangements, disarm and provide Israel with appropriate security guarantees,” he said.
“I don’t think we are under any illusions that the work of maintaining the ceasefire and building peace will be difficult,” Senator Wong said.
“It will be difficult, but we are committed to working with the international community towards long-term peace and security.”
The US President’s 21-point plan was approved by the UN Security Council last month, taking the biggest step in its implementation since the tense ceasefire on October 9.
Although the ceasefire was tested, it held up long enough to allow other elements of the first phase of the plan to move forward.
Hamas has released most of the hostages it took in its October 7, 2023 offensive, the Israeli military is reducing its presence in Gaza, and desperately needed humanitarian aid is flowing more quickly.
However, Hamas’s refusal to disarmament increases the fear that the war will begin again.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “finish the job” if Hamas does not comply with Trump’s plan.
