Australia: Israel Will Face Major Risks If Gaza Conflict Spreads

JAKARTA - Australia urged Israel to stop killing civilians while warning Tel Aviv would face "major risks" if the conflict in Gaza spreads.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated her country's call for a humanitarian pause in Gaza City.

“We want humanitarian supplies such as food, water, medicine and fuel to reach people who really need them. "The people of Gaza cannot wait," said Wong, according to a transcript released on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, November 2.

According to Wong, 20 Australian citizens from Gaza arrived in Egypt yesterday.

The Australian Foreign Minister expressed his concern about the current situation.

He said that even in war there are rules and the international community will not accept the continued deaths of civilians.

“So, when Israel's friends urge Israel to exercise restraint, when Israel's friends urge Israel to protect civilian lives, it's important for Israel to listen. "This is important for Israel's own security, which faces grave risks if the conflict spreads," he warned.

In light of reports of Palestinian families being forced out of villages in the West Bank by Israel, Wong conveyed his message to the Israeli government to "stop it (the action)."

Attacks on civilians in the West Bank who have a right to be there as well as violence against civilians must end, the foreign minister said, adding: “This is also not good for Israel's security.”

The Israeli army expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which Israel continues to bombard after the Palestinian resistance group Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7.

To date, more than 10,300 people, including 8,796 Palestinians and 1,538 Israelis, have died in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Apart from the high number of casualties and displacement, supplies of basic commodities for the 2.3 million residents of Gaza City are running low due to the Israeli siege.