Anthony Albanese and the Coalition are continuing to back Australia’s push for a two-state solution in Gaza despite the US president, Donald Trump, vowing to take control of the war-torn strip and permanently “resettle” Palestinians elsewhere in the Middle East.
In a joint press conference with Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the “US will take over the Gaza Strip” and relocate Palestinians living there to a “beautiful area with homes and safety … so that they can live out their lives in peace and harmony”.
The announcement marks a significant departure from the previous US administration’s policy, which supported a two-state solution, and is at odds with other US allies, including Australia, Canada and the UK.
The US’s major policy shift could also put further pressure on the Albanese government to maintain cordial relations with Israel amid escalating rhetoric and criticism from the country over Australia’s recent UN votes.
Albanese refused to answer to questions on Wednesday about Australia’s response to Trump’s announcement, including whether Australia would join the US, if requested, in peacekeeping missions in Gaza.
“What I would say is that Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, and it was 10 years ago, and as it was under the Howard government: the Australian government supports, and on a bipartisan basis, a two-state solution on the Middle East,” he said.
“I’m not going to, as Australia’s prime minister, give a daily commentary on statements by the US president. My job is to support Australia’s position.”
Liberal MP Julian Leeser told Sky News the opposition’s policy on a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel remained unchanged despite Trump’s comments.
“It’s not a policy we put forward,” he said. “I’m going to get back to first principles that we want to see as a priority, the hostages returned home. We want to see a peace in the Middle East.”
Liberal senator, Dave Sharma, who was once Australia’s ambassador to Israel, said it would be “too soon” for Australia to shift its foreign policy in response to Trump’s announcements.
“Something that Donald Trump staff often say about him is ‘take him seriously, but don’t take him literally’,” he told Sky News.
“I think he has demonstrated the seriousness of his intent, if you like, to grapple with and seek to resolve this problem. But quite how that’s done in the details, I don’t think we necessarily take today[’s announcement] as the final script.”
As part of his announcement at the White House on Tuesday US time, Trump said the US would “take over”, “own” and “level” Gaza before adding the strip could become the “the Riviera of the Middle East”.
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The Republican president added US troops could be sent in to secure Gaza “if it’s necessary” and a position on Israel’s sovereignty of the West Bank would announced in the next month.
The president of Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Daniel Aghion, said the group “favoured” the reconstruction of Gaza as a “peaceful, prosperous territory” but said resettlement remained a decision for Palestinians in Gaza.
“However, the question of whether some Gazans choose to remain in the territory through this process, temporarily relocate or are permanently absorbed by neighbouring states is ultimately a decision for those affected, most of all, Gaza’s civilian population,” he said.
The Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network’s president, Nasser Mashni, said the Australian government “must not shy away from confronting the menace of the US and Israel head-on”.
“Australia must not sit by in silence while the leaders of the US and Israel openly and in broad daylight incite genocidal violence against, and the permanent displacement of, Palestinians,” he said.
“The Australian government is bound to uphold international law, and it must not shy away from confronting the menace of the US and Israel head-on.
“If Australia, and the international community, cannot prevent the US and Israel from following through with this plan, then international law and a rules-based order will have been consigned to the dustbin of history.”
The foreign affairs minister’s office has been contacted for comment.