‘No running commentary’: Albanese sidesteps Trump’s Gaza plan
Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou, a long-time supporter of Palestinian rights, said she was alarmed by Trump’s “crass and bombastic” comments.
“I wish the US president would be more measured and serious about such an important and tragic issue,” she said. “Palestinians want to remain in their homeland; it defines who they are.”
Rateb Jneid, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, blasted Trump’s proposal as “unacceptable and catastrophic”, saying: “We call upon the Australian government to respond with more than mere disapproval. It is time for Australia to unconditionally recognise the state of Palestine and oppose any actions that undermine its sovereignty.”
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said: “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.
“Trump’s proposals are not just reckless – they are a calculated attack on Palestinians and on humanity.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said “fresh thinking” was needed in Gaza and welcomed Trump’s offer to help rebuild the devastated enclave.
He added that some of Trump’s proposals were “controversial and potentially quite problematic”, describing the prospect of forcibly evacuating Palestinians from Gaza as “unthinkable”.
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Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the group supported the “comprehensive reconstruction of Gaza as a peaceful, prosperous territory as was envisaged following Israel’s unilateral withdrawal in 2005”.
“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.
Max Kaiser, executive officer of the progressive Jewish Council of Australia, said Trump’s proposal “reflects the most extreme and dangerous elements of Israel’s far-right agenda”.
“We call on the Australian government to reject this dangerous rhetoric and reaffirm its commitment to international law and Palestinian self-determination,” he said.
Liberal senator Dave Sharma, who was once Australia’s ambassador to Israel, said Trump’s remarks should not always be taken literally, adding he did not believe Trump’s Gaza proposal was “the final script”.
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