TRANSCRIPT
Like many western countries, Australia has largely been rock-solid in its support of Israel in the current conflict in the Middle East.
But some divergence is emerging.
Australia has joined international calls for a humanitarian pause in Israel's attacks on Hamas in Gaza.
Amidst dire reports from international agencies who trying to get supplies past Israel's blockade of Gaza, Foreign Minister Penny Wong says humanitarian aid has to be the priority.
"So we today joined with other members of the international community in calling for pauses in conflict to enable humanitarian aid to get in to civilians."
And whilst the government still supports Israel's right to defend itself, Ms Wong has emphasised that the way it does so matters, and that it doesn't have carte blanche to do anything it likes.
"We do believe that humanitarian assistance to those in need matters. And we would urge all parties to enable that aid to access the people who need it."
That appears to have brought the government into at least a small amount of conflict with the Israeli position.
Amir Maimon is Israel's top diplomat in Australia.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, he says there's currently no problem with humanitarian aid getting in to Gaza.
"In accordance to our information and my knowledge, the humanitarian situation is fair. And, once again, in recent days, we allowed the passing of around thirty trucks from the Rafah passage, from Egypt, to the Gaza Strip."
The United Nations says thirty trucks is nowhere near enough.
It claims that, before the blockade, around 465 trucks per day of supplies were needed for Gaza.
The Palestinian Health Ministry claims nearly 6,000 of its people have been killed by Israel's ruthless response to the attacks by Hamas nearly three weeks ago that started this latest round of the long-running Israel-Hamas conflict.
They claim more than 2,000 of these deaths have been children.
But Mr Maimon says Israel's attacks are not aimed at individual Palestinians, but, rather, at Hamas.
"Israel is not attacking the Palestinian people. In fact, Israel poses no threat to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, as long as it does not join the attack on Israel."]]
The Palestinian-Australian community isn't buying much of what Mr Maimon has to say.
Nasser Mashni is from the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.
He says the Israeli ambassador's attitude is inhumane - and part of a long-standing attitude of this type from his country.
"I'm really hoping that Australia's language might get firmer and stronger. What speaks volumes is the ambassador for Israel saying that that language is inappropriate. Imagine saying to two million people who've had no food, water, electricity, or medicine for two weeks that some aid is a problem. That really speaks to Israel and their intentions in Gaza. And it should be clear to everyone who might not know that Hamas has only been in power since 2006. Israel has had a problem with the Palestinians before Hamas."
Nor does Mr Mashni accept Mr Maimon's argument about military force not being intended for individual Palestinians in Gaza.
"Israel is the occupying power. Under international law, as an occupying power, it has sole responsibility for the people it occupies. Every Palestinian death at the end of Israeli armaments are absolutely the responsibility of the Israeli government."
It's been another busy twenty-four hours in the conflict.
Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia is deploying two Defence Force aircraft to the region in case the situation deteriorates further.
The Israeli military claims it has thwarted an attempt by Hamas to infiltrate its country by sea.
Hamas has freed some more Israeli hostages, although the better part of 200 still remain in captivity.
Israel is calling for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resign, after he said there are clear violations of international humanitarian law going on in Gaza.
And, visiting Jerusalem, French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for an international coalition to fight Hamas, just as there is one to fight I-S in Iraq and Syria.
French, then translated "This is why France is prepared for the international coalition against I-S, within which we are engaged for our operation in Iraq and Syria, to also be able to fight against Hamas. I propose to our international partners, I discussed it with you this morning, that we can build a regional and international coalition to fight against the terrorist groups that threaten us all."
The stated aim of Hamas, which is a Palestinian group both political and military in nature, is to establish Palestinian state, whilst refusing to recognise Israel's right to exist.
It's been in power in Gaza since winning elections there in 2006.
Hamas, in its entirety, is designated as a terrorist organisation by countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
