Australia gives another $10m to Gaza for aid

Australia has committed another $10m for food urgently needed in Gaza.

The latest funding takes Australia’s humanitarian assistance to $72.5m since October 7.

Federal frontbencher Anne Aly was in Jordan this week at an urgent meeting about aid in Gaza.

“Ultimately, this is about Israel taking responsibility for this and this was something that we emphasised … that Israel must allow the flow of aid into Gaza and the distribution of aid throughout Gaza,” Dr Aly told ABC Radio.

The money will go the United Nations World Food Program.

World Food Program executive director Cindy McCain last month said Israeli restrictions on humanitarian deliveries to Gaza, which has long relied on outside food assistance, had pushed civilians in the most isolated, devastated part of Gaza into famine.

In the midst of a diplomatic trip to Ukraine and a visit by the Chinese Premier tying up various ministers, Egyptian-born Dr Aly was tapped to represent Australia in Jordan.

“Dr Anne Aly and her family are among many in the Australian community who have lived experience and understanding of the long and devastating conflict in the Middle East,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said this week.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic,” Dr Aly said.

“Over one million Palestinians are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity and around 1.7 million people have been displaced, many several times over. Humanitarian access remains grossly inadequate.

“Israel must allow aid to flow at scale as ordered by the International Court of Justice.

“We thank Egypt, Jordan and the United Nations for bringing the world together in support of civilians in Gaza. The suffering of Palestinian civilians cannot continue.”

This week the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution endorsing a US-backed ceasefire proposal that aims to end Israel’s eight-month assault on Gaza.

The proposal calls for a six-week ceasefire and exchange of Israeli captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The second phase is a permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages, and the third phase is rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

“That no country voted against the (UNSC) resolution underlines the international community’s view that this war must end,” Senator Wong said.