Meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

19 October 2023 in 2023

Meeting with FM Wong at Parliament House

On October 19, a delegation of Arab Ambassadors met with Australian Foreign Minister Senator the Honorable Penny Wong at Federal Parliament House in Canberra. The discussion centered on the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in order to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza. In this context, the Ambassadors discussed the dire and catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip including Israel's total siege on Gaza, cutting off electricity, drinking water, fuel, and medical supplies, in addition to the brutal massacre at Al Ahli Hospital.

The root causes of the current situation in Gaza were also discussed, particularly the Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, the brutal siege on Gaza, and the failure of the international community to effectively implement the two-state solution, including self-determination for the Palestinian people in statehood. Additionally, the position of the Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities and the significant need for Australia to take an evenhanded, balanced position towards the Israeli aggressions on the Gaza Strip were addressed. In this context, the Arab Ambassadors advised the Foreign Minister to effectively engage with these communities and their representatives, and listen carefully to their concerns.

Prior to this meeting, the Arab Ambassadors paid a solidarity visit to the Palestinian Embassy in Canberra.

This meeting was in follow up to an October 16 meeting and discussion at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) between representatives of the Council of Arab Ambassadors and DFAT officials to discuss the situation in Gaza.