Pro-Palestinian supporters have branded the Deputy Prime Minister and other Victorian-based MPs as “war pigs” as part of fresh demonstrations against Australia’s response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The messages were spray painted on the Geelong offices of Richard Marles, Libby Coker and senator Sarah Henderson as well as state MPs Darren Cheeseman, Christine Couzens and […]
Read MoreWong speaks with UNRWA as reports emerge questioning Israel’s claims its staff are involved with Hamas
Australia’s foreign minister says she has spoken with the United Nations aid agency in Gaza as new reports emerge questioning Israel’s claims that its staff were involved in the October 7 terrorist attacks. Australia was one of a group of countries to suspend aid to UNRWA after Israel presented evidence to the UN that 12 […]
Read MoreSydney motorist ordered to surrender ‘OCT7TH’ personalised number plates
In short: A Sydney man must surrender personalised plates with the number “OCT7TH”, in reference to attacks by Hamas on Israel. Premier Chris Minns says the plates were issued in error. What’s next? The ute’s owner must hand in the plates within two business days to avoid the vehicle being deregistered. A Sydney man […]
Read MoreForeign minister Penny Wong says Australia does not yet have all evidence of Israel’s UNRWA allegations
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has sought further evidence that UN aid staff were involved in the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, admitting she does not yet have all the evidence to hand. Australia and other countries including the US, UK, Switzerland and Germany paused their funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency […]
Read MoreUS drone strike in Baghdad kills Iran-backed militia chief
A US drone strike in Baghdad killed a commander of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia blamed for a deadly strike at an American base in Jordan last week, part of a sharpened effort by the Pentagon to deter attacks on its forces. The commander, of the Iraqi militia group Kataib Hezbollah, was responsible for directly planning […]
Read MoreLegal answer for incitement to violence not hard
Tom Bathurst, the former chief justice of NSW, has been handed a task that has proved to be beyond the capacity of the best brains in the NSW parliament. He has been asked to review a law that is incapable of dealing with the worst of the anti-Semitic bile that has given Sydney a global […]
Read MoreIsrael at war: Top Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli strike on Lebanon
Israel-Ukraine aid package clears major hurdle in US Senate By Agency Writers The Democratic-controlled Senate cleared a critical hurdle toward passing a $95 billion national security-focused bill aimed at fortifying Ukraine, Israel and other allies, voting to move to debate an issue that has divided Republicans for months. The vote was 67-32, above the 60-vote […]
Read MorePenny Wong suggests Australia wants to resume UNRWA funding, noting ‘reality’ of Gaza situation
Penny Wong has suggested that Australia wants to resume funding to the United Nations agency delivering aid to Gaza as soon as possible, maintaining that while recent allegations about staff were gravely serious, there are no alternatives. Australia, alongside the United States, the United Kingdom and a number of other like-minded countries, paused their funding […]
Read MoreIsrael-Hamas War: US approves strikes on Iran ‘personnel and facilities’
Plans have been approved for the US military to launch a series of strikes targeting Iranian “personnel and facilities” in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the death of three American troops. US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the weather would determine when the strikes would begin, adding the attacks “won’t be a […]
Read MoreUNICEF chief Catherine Russell says donors must feel comfortable before again committing aid to UNRWA, as Penny Wong speaks out
UNICEF’s executive director Catherine Russell says she understands the concerns of donor countries including Australia who have suspended aid to the UN’s refugee agency in Gaza, following allegations of staff involvement in the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. Australia was one of a group of countries that suspended aid to UNRWA after evidence was […]
Read More