Anthony Albanese has stood firmly behind Foreign Minister Penny Wong, amid her controversial decision not to visit the sites of the October 7 massacres and kidnappings in southern Israel.
Senator Wong has arrived in Jordan on the first stop of her week-long visit to the Middle East, which will include Israel, occupied Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates.
She is the first minister of the Albanese government to visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since the Hamas attack started the war in Gaza.
But it was her decision not to visit the kibbutzim in southern Israel where Hamas killed more than 1200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostage that has drawn the ire of Jewish Australians and the Coalition.
The Prime Minister defended Senator Wong’s itinerary on Tuesday, saying she was not the first foreign minister not to visit the sites.
“The fact is that a range of foreign ministers, including the foreign minister of Canada and other countries did not visit the kibbutzes (sic) when they visited Israel,” Mr Albanese said.
“Penny Wong is visiting Israel to speak to family and friends of the hostages – both those people who have been released, but also the families who quite rightly want their loved ones released.
“Australia reiterates our call for every single hostage to be released, unconditionally and immediately. That is our position. It is a clear and unequivocal position that we have had from day one.”
His comments came as reports emerged that Hamas had killed two hostages, more than 100 days after they were taken.
On Monday, the Coalition’s home affairs spokesman James Paterson called on Mr Albanese to “direct” Senator Wong to visit the kibbutzim.
“I think it’s very unfortunate that (Senator Wong) appears to have needed to be dragged kicking and screaming to visit Israel,” Senator Paterson said.
“It’s disappointing it’s taken (her) this long to do so.”
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has been vocal in their critique of Senator Wong’s decision not to visit the sites.
Co-chief executives Peter Wertheim and Alex Ryvchin said it was “insulting and deeply concerning”.
“Personally inspecting the south and witnessing the carnage and destruction would not only convey Australia’s support, it is essential to understanding the depth of evil that Israel faces and the necessity of its war to defeat Hamas,” they said on Monday.