Greens leader’s call on Gaza conflict

Greens leader Adam Bandt says its not his place to publicly state whether there should be a two-state solution as the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip continues.

Mr Bandt said it was essential the world supports Israel and Palestine as they try to find a workable solution to the continued tension and violence in the region.

“Our view is that Israelis and Palestinians are both equally entitled to live in peace and security and exercise their rights to self-determination in accordance with international law,” he told Insiders on Sunday.

When pressed again on whether he supported a two-state solution, Mr Bandt said the decision was not one for him to weigh in on.

“It’s up to Palestinians and Israelis to equally enjoy those rights,” he said.

“And if that’s what they choose to self-determine, then that’s what they choose to self-determine.

“Our point is that it is the international community can no longer pretend that the slaughter and the invasion is not happening.

“ It’s a massive toll. The occupation of Palestine and the Palestinian territories has to end.

“And then we need to support them to self-determine their own future so that both Israelis and Palestinians have that right.”

“And what we’ve seen to date is that not happen.

“So what we support is the international community getting behind and stopping the invasion, stopping of the occupation of the Palestinian territories, which is absolutely critical, and then supporting Israelis and Palestinians in a process that will allow them to self-determine their own future.”

The Greens have been vocal about the Gaza conflict since October 7, when Hamas killed about 1200 in an attack in Israel.

More than 35,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war broke out in October, most of whom are civilians, according to health authorities.

Greens party members have called for a ceasefire and for Israel to “end the occupation of the Palestinian territories”.

Mr Bandt also failed to state outright that Hamas was a terrorist organisation, instead just referring to the fact Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and a host of other nations had listed them as such.

“They’re listed as a terrorist organisation,’ he said.

“We’re not arguing to change that.

“They’re listed. And we’ve condemned the acts of October 7. And we’ve called for the perpetrators to be held to account.

“But now what is happening when you have the international court saying – stop the invasion of Rafah and the very next day, within hours afterwards, this extreme war Cabinet goes and bombs Rafah.

“Now is the time for the international community to take actions against this extreme war Cabinet in Israel, because it is the only way that they’re going to listen and it’s got to start with sanctions on this extreme war Cabinet, the ending of Australia’s two-way military trade with Israel.”

His comments come after International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor this week ordered the arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas leaders.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters he wouldn’t comment on the ICC’s decision as it was before the courts.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton called the arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu “appalling”.