Key Points
- Israel's top diplomat in Australia says 'we're not talking about de-escalation now'.
- It comes as Australians in Israel are urged to contact their families.
- Hamas fighters launched the deadliest attacks in decades against Israel on Friday.
Israel's current top diplomat in Canberra says "we're not talking about de-escalation now" and expects Australia to back its response to a series of deadly Hamas attacks in its territory.
But his Palestinian equivalent has urged the federal government to help avert civilian casualties, warning people in the densely-populated Gaza Strip - currently being bombarded by Israeli airstrikes - face "hell" in the coming weeks.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned Australians not to travel to Gaza and reiterated Australia's support of Israel, as the country reels .
More than 1,100 people have been killed across both Israel and Gaza since Saturday, with Israeli ground forces also reportedly headed to Gaza - which is governed by Hamas, and where around 2 million Palestinians are subject to an air, land, and sea blockade.
Israel facing 'existential threat': Deputy ambassador
Christian Cantor, Israel's deputy ambassador and current acting charge d'affaires, told SBS News his country was facing an "existential threat" and it was too soon to talk about de-escalating the situation.
Cantor argued there was no moral equivalency between Hamas indiscriminately targeting civilians and "innocent lives that probably, or could be, lost as part of a military operation" in Gaza.
"We're not talking about de-escalation now. We're talking about defending ourselves," he said.
"I mean, what would you expect your government to do if 2,000 Australians were ... slaughtered in one day by ISIS (self-proclaimed Islamic State) forces here in Brisbane or Adelaide?
"What is the normal response and obligation of responsible government towards its citizens? The first thing is to provide security for those people. Clearly, there is a threat here that is called Hamas ... I'm not talking about the Palestinians, I'm talking about Hamas."
A view of a wrecked vehicles after Israeli airstrikes at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on October 09, 2023. Source: Getty / Ali Jadallah
Hamas is a Palestinian military and political group, gaining power in the Gaza Strip since winning legislative elections there in 2006.
Hamas’s stated aim is to establish a Palestinian state, while refusing to recognise Israel’s right to exist.
Asked whether Israel expected its allies to back whatever response it saw fit, Cantor said it expected them to "stand next to us, not to stand with those barbarians".
"The expectation is [for Australia] to provide the political support for us Israelis to defend themselves. I think that's the expectation from any Israeli," he said.
"We don't expect the Australian forces to come and defend us … We never asked anyone to come and fight our fights. We don't expect Australian fighters coming and rescuing us and fighting against Hamas. We do expect Australia to support us while we do that."
Hamas, in its entirety, is designated as a terrorist organisation by countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Some countries list only its military wing as a terrorist group.
The United Nations though did not condemn Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organisation, due to insufficient support from member states to do so during a 2018 vote.
Israeli officers walk next to a destroyed house during a rocket attack from Gaza, launched during Hamas' surprise attack. Source: Getty / Ilia Yefimovich
Palestinian delegate warns of 'hell' in Gaza
Izzat Abdulhadi, head of the general delegation of Palestine to Australia and New Zealand, described the imminent situation in Gaza as "hell".
"I expect hundreds [and] hundreds of Palestinian people will die in Gaza. This is a big tragedy. And I hope because of that, to avoid this, and to avoid more escalation in the situation," he told SBS News.
Abdulhadi urged the international community to "intervene quickly, effectively, properly" to prevent further bloodshed.
"Australia has a lot of avenues to do something. In multilateral forums, they can talk in the United Nations, they can talk to the United States. Israel is a friend of Australia, so you can talk to Israelis to de-escalate [the situation] and restrain any sort of difficult assault on Gaza," he said.
Hamas claimed its attack, during which civilians were indiscriminately murdered and taken hostage, was a retaliation for what it called escalated attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Abdulhadi said the Palestinian government and embassy were "against killing civilians from both sides" and supported non-violent resistance, but said "you can't ignore" the context surrounding the attacks.
"I think the international community should be fair and also condemn the killing of thousands of Palestinians on [a] daily basis," he said.
Australia condemns 'abhorrent' attack
The federal government is trying to confirm the welfare of Australians caught up in the "abhorrent" attack by the Islamist group.
Hamas fighters attacked Israeli towns on Saturday, also launched a series of rocket attacks, in the deadliest incursion since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has condemned "egregious acts" by Hamas and expressed solidarity with Israel on behalf of the government. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"These are abhorrent acts and I again reiterate our call for all hostages to be released," she said, with 100 Israelis reported to be held captive by a senior Hamas official on Sunday.
Wong said she had spoken to her Israeli counterpart over the weekend to express Australia's support for Israel and its right to defend itself.
She also urged all Australians in Israel to contact their families to "assure us all of your safety".
"I don't have any information at this stage about any Australians hospitalised or injured. Or any fatalities," she said.
"We are seeking to ascertain the welfare and whereabouts of Australians on the ground".
Australia updated its travel advice on Monday, urging travellers to avoid Gaza "".
It is also advising people in Israel and occupied Palestinian territories to exercise a high degree of caution.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton also condemned attacks by Hamas.
Albanese denounced the "indiscriminate killing of civilians and citizens".
"This was a shock attack that was obviously very well planned and I think has shocked the world, the extent of which we haven't seen for 50 years," he told ABC News Breakfast.
"Civilians shouldn't be targeted in this and that is what is so horrific about Hamas's indiscriminate actions that took place."
He said that Australian government agencies were working around the clock to ensure the safe return of Australian citizens in the region, urging anyone concerned about relatives to contact 1300 555 135.
Dutton said that the Coalition "utterly condemns the unprovoked and abhorrent attack by militant Hamas on Israel".
The prime minister has also highlighted "real concerns" about antisemitism in Australia following the attacks on Israel.
"Racism is always (present). Whether antisemitism, Islamophobia, or other forms of racism, it is always a bad thing,” the prime minister said on Sky News.
"We'll do what we can to combat it, but also to provide support for vulnerable communities.
