As regional tensions escalate threats to civilians across the Middle East, our leaders need to take concrete steps to prevent further civilian harm.
Those steps should include an immediate embargo on arms and arms components destined for Israel, an affirmation of the existence of the Palestinian state, and expanding targeted sanctions to include Israeli leaders who are responsible and who call for continued unrestricted warfare in Gaza.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed last month, alongside his counterparts from Canada and New Zealand, that ‘the situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.’ Many Australians agree, watching in horror over the past 10 months as attacks in Gaza continue to intensify: so-called ‘safe zones’ are declared and then revoked amid a persistent looming threat of famine, and a record number of aid workers have been killed, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.
Across Australia, people continue to take to streets, harbours and university campuses to demand an end to civilian suffering. As regional tensions escalate, prompting urgent calls for Australians to leave Lebanon, people are asking, ‘How is this still happening? Are we really doing enough to make it stop?’
As protection practitioners, we know that statements condemning civilian harm are necessary, as illustrated in the outpouring of condemnation following the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel last year. Calling out civilian harm and reminding all parties to the war, including Israel, of their legal obligation to spare civilians during hostilities are critical elements of the political pressure that must continue to be exerted. Yet words are not enough. Australia’s efforts to use its leverage to mitigate the escalating violence that is now extending to Lebanon must include timely and concrete actions.
Our allies know that, and we need to follow suit. In the wake of the landmark ICJ advisory opinion that found Israel’s occupation and annexation of the Palestinian territories to be unlawful, many countries have already taken concrete steps to prevent further violations of international law. Beyond upholding our international legal obligations, concrete action is essential to exert the necessary pressure for a lasting ceasefire and to de-escalate tensions that are threatening civilians across the region.
Those steps follow earlier actions taken by a host of countries, including South Africa, which led a coalition of states to bring a case against Israel to the ICJ, and such EU states as Norway, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia, all of which have recognised Palestine as a state. The new British Labour government is reported to be reviewing arms export licences to Israel, following Canada and the Netherlands, which have stopped shipments of weapons.
Australia can and should take stronger action to protect civilians in Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region, putting practical action behind Albanese’s affirmation that ‘The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end.’ This has only become more urgent following the assassination last month of Ismael Haniyeh, the lead Hamas ceasefire negotiator, and the increasing fear of retaliatory actions that could spark a regional war, dramatically increasing threats to civilians across the region.
As a middle power, Australia has a critical role to play in upholding the rules-based order and the necessary protections for civilians provided in international humanitarian and human-rights law. We need to be clear in amplifying our democratic and human-rights-based values, which include respect for academic freedom and the right to peaceful protest. And, to be taken seriously, we need to act to protect those legal standards and values when situations like Gaza threaten their erosion. Granting continued impunity in the Israel–Gaza crisis increases threats for civilians everywhere.
There are clear steps that Australia must take. That means an immediate embargo on shipments of arms and arms components, including dual-use exports that can be used for civilian and military purposes. Recent Senate estimates revealed continuing exports from Australia to Israel related to military activities. Even since the assault on Gaza escalated in 2023, the Department of Defence has renewed or signed almost $100 million in contracts with Israeli-owned companies such as Elbit Systems.
In the Netherlands, a court recently ordered the Dutch government to block similar kinds of exports to Israel, highlighting the risks of breaching international law if they were to continue. Aligned with its policy that continues to affirm a two-state solution, the Australian government needs to align with EU allies and others in recognising that two states exist, affirming the existence of Palestine alongside Israel. Australia can build on sanctions announced by Foreign Minister Penny Wong last month by extending restrictions to Israeli leaders who continue to support unrestricted warfare in Gaza, as we have in other conflicts involving breaches of international law—for example, against Russia over its invasion of and ongoing attacks on Ukraine.
Through timely, concrete action, Australia can demonstrate its commitment to protecting civilians in Gaza and the wider region and its respect for the international legal obligations arising from the ICJ ruling. Such actions align with our important role as a middle power, reinforcing our legitimacy through a consistent approach with like-minded countries to defending the rules-based order and protection for all civilian populations.