Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said his counterpart, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “in denial” about suffering in Gaza.
His comments come after Australia’s commitment on Monday to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, following in the footsteps of Canada, France and the United Kingdom.
Albanese said he spoke with Netanyahu about the decision last week.
“He again reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well, which is to be in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people,” Albanese said in an interview with state broadcaster ABC.
World leaders have ramped up pressure on Netanyahu to increase aid delivery to starving people in Gaza.
The Hamas-run health ministry said five people have died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, as reported by the BBC. The total number of deaths due to malnutrition is tallied at 222, including 101 children, per the outlet.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee have criticized allies for moving to recognize a Palestinian state, arguing it will hamper efforts to broker a Isreal-Hamas ceasefire.
However, President Trump has contradicted Netanyahu’s denials of mass starvation in Gaza.
“I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry,” Trump told reporters late last month.
More than 100 aid groups have warned of mass starvation in the strip and urged leaders to intervene by providing resources to those in need.
“Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions,” they wrote.
“Piecemeal arrangements and symbolic gestures, like airdrops or flawed aid deals, serve as a smokescreen for inaction.”
