Australia's Inaction on Gaza Crisis Exposed: DFAT Briefings Reveal "Catastrophic" Humanitarian Situation

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) advised Foreign Minister Penny Wong in June 2024 that the situation in Gaza was "catastrophic" due to the killing of thousands of Palestinians, mass graves around hospitals, and rising starvation and disease. The DFAT briefings, obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Rex Patrick, detail a humanitarian crisis that has been exacerbated by Israel's ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip. The briefings also reveal that the Australian government has continued to export weapons parts to Israel and maintain normal diplomatic relations, despite condemning the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Key Takeaways:

• As of May 13, 2024, nearly 35,000 Palestinians had been killed and over 78,000 injured in Gaza, with 1.7 million people displaced out of a population of 2.3 million.
• The DFAT briefings reveal that the Australian government had condemned the humanitarian situation in Gaza but took no action to address it.
• The export of weapons parts to Israel continued, as did normal diplomatic relations, despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
• The Australian government declined to participate in the genocide case at the International Court of Justice in 2024.
• The Pine Gap communications assistance continued, and Israeli Australians continued to fight with the IDF.
• The Binskin Report into the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was handed down in July 2024, but the report has been criticized for failing to include audio recordings of the IDF personnel involved in the drone strike.
• At least 2,527 Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their families had left Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories by June 2024, with 2,186 returning to Australia.

Statistics:

• 35,000 Palestinians killed as of May 13, 2024.
• 78,000 Palestinians injured as of May 13, 2024.
• 1.7 million people displaced out of a population of 2.3 million in Gaza.
• 2,527 Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their families left Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories by June 2024.
• 2,186 Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their families returned to Australia by June 2024.

Sources:

• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) briefings for the month of June 2024 obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Rex Patrick.
• The Binskin Report into the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
• Michael West, "DFAT's litany of war crimes: Freedom of Information responses reveal horror in Gaza", Michael West Media, July 2024.