Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed progress on a peace plan between Israel and Hamas, with the designated terror group conditionally agreeing to release hostages.
Hamas took more than 250 hostages during its October 7, 2023 attack against Israel, during which more than 1200 people were killed, according to Israeli figures.
Israel believes Hamas continues to hold 48 hostages, only 20 of whom are alive.
Mr Albanese said Australia had consistently been part of calls for a ceasefire, hostage release and unimpeded aid with the humanitarian situation in Gaza at catastrophic levels.
“I reiterate our call on Hamas to agree to the plan, lay down its arms and release all remaining hostages without delay,” he said in a Saturday statement, posted to X.
Mr Albanese said Australia would continue to support peace efforts and a two-state solution, where Israeli and Palestinian states could exist side by side.
US President Donald Trump has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu its bombing of Gaza must cease as his 20-point peace plan progresses.
The blueprint stipulates Israel will also release some 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1700 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023.
Israel will also return the remains of 15 deceased Gazans for every remains of an Israel hostage.
The plan further stipulates Israel’s military withdrawal to prepare for the hostage release before a complete staged withdrawal, and contains provisions for the full distribution of humanitarian aid, which Israel has throttled or blockaded during the war.
But while Hamas has agreed to release the hostages, it’s reportedly seeking negotiations over other aspects including demands it disarms and plays no role in Gaza’s governance.
The international community has widely rejected Hamas playing any governance role in Gaza and called for the terrorist group to lay down its arms.
Mr Trump called it “a very special day” as he welcomed news hostages would be released.
The president had warned “all hell, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas” if it didn’t agree to the plan.
Pro-Palestinian activists have reiterated calls for Australia to sanction Israel and take stronger diplomatic action on the verge of the war’s second anniversary.
More than 66,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the strip’s health authorities, and deaths from malnutrition and starvation number in the hundreds following Israel’s blockades.
Six Australian humanitarian workers were among hundreds of people detained by Israel after participating in the global flotilla that aimed to bring humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
Spokespeople for the flotilla said Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs was refusing to communicate with families of the detained.
Jacinta McEwen, whose son Surya is among the group, said the lack of information from Australian authorities was “unconscionable”.
“My son could be dying and they won’t even tell me if he’s okay,” she said in a statement.
“The Australian government has a duty to protect its citizens, they are failing us.”
DFAT says it is providing consular assistance to five detained Australians and seeking confirmation of another.
“Officials from the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv are on the ground in Ketziot to support Australians in detention,” a spokesperson said.
The department urged Israel to comply with international law to ensure the safety and humane treatment of people involved.
“The Australian government has made clear to Israel our expectation that detainees will receive humane treatment in line with international norms.”
International reports have emerged of a stream of diplomats, including from Australia, visiting the high-security Saharonim prison in Israel, near the Egyptian border, where members of the flotilla are being detained.
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