Australia’s big move in Middle East conflict

The federal government will provide $10m in humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the devastating Israel-Palestine war that has recently spread to Lebanon.

On Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the multimillion dollar aid contribution would be distributed through United Nations partners to address urgent and emerging needs.

Around 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, causing emergency shelters to become overwhelmed.

The funding will be targeted towards improving access to food, shelter, healthcare and other critical services as the conflict continues.

“The conflict in Lebanon is taking a heavy toll on civilians, including women and children,” Ms Wong said.

“This additional contribution will help those in urgent need, through access to food, shelter and healthcare.”

International Development Minister Pat Conroy agreed the $10m funding would “help protect the most vulnerable”.

He condemned the killing of humanitarian workers, who have been killed while attempting to provide aid to hundreds of thousands of conflict-affected civilians.

“Civilians and humanitarian workers must be protected, and humanitarian personnel must be able to access all individuals in need of assistance,” Mr Conroy said.

The Australian government reiterated its calls for warring parties to maintain international law and protect civilians and humanitarian workers.

Ms Wong said the government would “continue to press for ceasefires in Lebanon and in Gaza”.

Over the past year, the Australian government has committed $94.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support people impacted by the Israel-Palestine war and the subsequent expansion of the conflict to Lebanon.

Australians are warned not to travel to Lebanon, and the government has continually urged any Australians who are currently in the country to leave.

The government received 3600 requests for repatriation from Australians who were stranded in Lebanon when the conflict erupted.

Hundreds of Australians have been successfully brought home but it is unclear how many are still in the country.

The government has said as many as 15,000 Australians regularly reside in Lebanon.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated rapidly in late September, when Israel targeted the Lebanese capital of Beirut with strikes that killed more than 2500 people and injured many more.

Israel’s action against Hezbollah followed nearly a year of cross-border rocket fire targeting civilian areas in northern Israel, which forced tens of thousands of people from their homes.

The Iran-backed Islamist group, which Australia classifies as a terrorist organisation, began attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group that administers Gaza.

Israel’s war on Palestine is estimated to have claimed more than 42,000 Palestinian lives and left more than 100,000 injured.

More than 1,130 Israelis were killed when Hamas launched a surprise offensive on Israel on October 7 last year, sparking the deadly war.