Australian Foreign Minister Condemns Extreme Opposition Attitudes That Do Not Support Ceasefire In Gaza

JAKARTA - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has criticized the opposition group for not supporting the growing ceasefire calls for Gaza and Lebanon.

Wong said opposition leader Peter Dutton was 'extreme' because he did not support calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East. This was reported by local broadcaster SBS News quoted via Anadolu, Sunday, October 13.

Wong's comments came after Liberal senator James Peterson said opposition groups wanted a prolonged end to the conflict in the Middle East, but refused to support the ceasefire.

Wong observed that the opposition group's stance on the issue of a ceasefire "contrary" to the international community, including the United States (US).

"A few days ago, Mr. Dutton said the prime minister should be criticized for calling for a ceasefire," he said in a statement.

"Now the Liberals are finally aware that they are against the international community including the United States, all of which are urging peace -- but he still hasn't been able to do it," said Wong.

Wong said Dutton was "so focused on dividing Australians apart from this conflict that he didn't realize how isolated he was".

"We know Mr. Dutton is negative towards everything, but being negative towards a ceasefire that saves civilian lives and prevents a more severe escalation of conflict is very extreme," Wong further said.

Earlier this week, Dutton accused the Australian government of trying to "accompany with both sides" regarding the Middle East conflict.

Israel has launched a massive airstrike in Lebanon against what Israel has claimed to be Hezbollah's target since September 23, killing at least 1,437 people, injuring more than 4,123 others, and displaced more than 1.34 million people.

The air campaign is an escalation of a year-long cross-border war between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of an attack on the Gaza Strip, in which Israel has killed nearly 42,200 people, most of whom are women and children, since last year's Hamas attack.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East is on the verge of a regional war amid Israel's intense attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Israel expanded the conflict by launching an attack on southern Lebanon on October 1.