Australia accuses Israel of politicising aid in Gaza

Australia demands Israel immediately resume full humanitarian aid into Gaza, as millions of Palestinian civilians remain severely malnourished and on the brink of starvation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday confirmed the nation would resume "minimal" aid deliveries to Gaza after cutting off the territory from all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies nearly three months ago.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed Australia has joined more than 20 nations in calling on Israel to do more to allow humanitarian aid in Gaza, saying Gaza's people must "receive the aid they desperately need".

"Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted," said a joint statement signed by foreign ministers including Senator Wong.

"The population faces starvation."

The first few aid trucks has entered Gaza, carrying baby food and other desperately needed aid via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

International aid organisations warn it will "only be a trickle amongst a sea of need".

According to the joint statement, the aid proposed by Israel falls short of what is needed to assist the millions of Palestinians in need.

"It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives," the statement said.

"Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change."

Australia has urged Israel to resume the full delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and allow aid workers to operate independently.

"We remain committed to meeting the acute needs we see in Gaza," the statement said.

"It is our firm conviction that an immediate return to a ceasefire and working towards the implementation of a two-state solution are the only way to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability for the whole region."

According to aid officials familiar with Israel's proposed plan, it will involve setting up distribution points mostly in southern Gaza, forcing many Palestinians to move south once again.

The war has displaced about 90 per cent of its population, most of them multiple times.

Oxfam's Gaza response lead Wassem Mushtaha said for the past 70 days, people had been starved, deprived of food, water, medicine and essential supplies.

"The limited entry of aid into Gaza cannot be mistaken for meaningful progress, especially alongside the expansion of Israel's brutal bombing campaign across the Gaza Strip," Mr Mushtaha said.

"It is not a turning point, but at best a narrow concession that seems to reflect mounting international pressure. It will only be a trickle amongst a sea of need."

The war in Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others on October 7, 2023.

Israel's military response in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 53,000 people and displaced nearly all its residents, according to Gaza health authorities.

The militants are still holding 58 captives, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

with Reuters