Australia urges probe into Lebanon peacekeeper killings
The killing of United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon was condemned by Australia, as the Israeli ambassador defended his country’s ground attack on the neighboring country.
Three Indonesian personnel working for the UN in Lebanon were killed, but the force carrying out the attacks has not yet been officially identified.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong condemned the killings and said the attacks were unacceptable.
“We extend our sincere condolences to his loved ones, colleagues and Indonesia,” he said in a statement on channel X.
“We support Indonesia’s call for a comprehensive investigation.”
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman claimed his country’s attack on Lebanon was “100 percent defensive” to prevent Hezbollah from firing rockets at Israel.
Israel is trying to take control of the part of Lebanon between the border and the Litani river, 30 kilometers north.
Lebanon’s health ministry said more than 1,200 people had been killed since the start of the Israeli ground offensive, according to local media reports.
“We’re in a tough neighborhood,” Dr Newman told the National Press Club on Tuesday.
“We have neighbors who are determined to destroy the state of Israel.
“If only my neighbors were Fiji and New Zealand, my life would be completely different,” he said.
Overnight, Israel passed laws allowing the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of killing Israelis in the West Bank.
In response, Senator Wong said Australia opposed the death penalty in all cases, but Dr Newman said the rules would act as a deterrent to “terrorists” on Israel’s borders.
He said there are safeguards in the legislation that allow people sentenced to death to appeal.
A small group of protesters gathered outside the venue, with one of them telling AAP he was “disgusted” that the ambassador was given such a platform.
“We don’t need to hear any more from Israel, but he’s still on our stage,” said performer Peta Swarbrick.
Arriving in Canberra in early 2026, Dr. Newman defended Israel’s killing of three journalists in Lebanon on Saturday, claiming that at least two of them had ties to Hezbollah, which is on the terror list.
“Israel has never targeted a journalist just because he is a journalist,” he said.
Following the attack, the Israeli defense force released a doctored photo of one of those killed, journalist Ali Shoeib, to show him in a military uniform.
Dr Newman did not say when the war would end, only outlining his country’s main goals in the conflict: eliminating Iran’s ability to launch nuclear and conventional missiles.
He said that although regime change in Iran is not Israel’s primary goal, it may be needed to eliminate the military threat.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iran’s energy infrastructure if an agreement to end America’s and Israel’s joint war against Iran is not reached soon.
Senator Wong confirmed more than 103 direct commercial flights had arrived home from the Middle East since March 4, carrying approximately 10,400 Australians.
He said Australians in the region should not delay their departures and leave on commercial flights.
“While talks are taking place to end the conflict, the situation in the Middle East remains unstable and could deteriorate rapidly,” Senator Wong said.
Australians are also urged not to travel via Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The federal government is intensifying calls for de-escalation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for a clear timeline to end the conflict, arguing that the United States had achieved most of its initial goals.
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