As well as our co-ordinated calls for ceasefire and the release of hostages, we act in concert with other donors to provide lifesaving aid. Australia has committed more than $90 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians impacted by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. We have also doubled our annual funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

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I’m leading an influential group of countries to create a global Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. We are building a coalition for the safety of aid workers who provide the food, water and medicine that civilians need to survive.

Australia works with Canada, New Zealand and other supporters of international law, including by backing the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. International law includes the UN Charter that allows countries to defend themselves – and the Geneva Conventions that protect civilians during wars. Palestinian civilians cannot pay the price of defeating Hamas.

Australia has joined a large number of countries in condemning and sanctioning Hamas, Hezbollah and others for their terrorism. Just as we have partnered in sanctioning Israeli extremist settlers for their violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

We work with others because going it alone gets us nowhere in the Middle East. But you wouldn’t think that listening to some politicians. Peter Dutton demands I do what no other country has done: say the rules don’t apply to Israel. And the Greens demand I apply sanctions to Israel that no other country has applied. When Australia applies sanctions, we co-ordinate with partners. That’s what makes them effective.

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These two ends of the political spectrum repeat absolutist positions we see overseas in order to recklessly reproduce the conflict in our diverse society and exploit distressed Australians. All-or-nothing demands do nothing to end the Middle East cycle of violence.

That can only happen when the promise of two states is fulfilled. Frustratingly, this seems a distant prospect. It is bitterly opposed by Hamas, which seeks to end the Jewish state. It is also not supported by many in the Netanyahu government. But Israel’s own long-term security requires it, and Palestinians have a right to self-determination.

Australia was one of 143 countries to vote in support of Palestinian aspirations for full membership of the UN – where we have also called for a timeline for the international declaration of Palestinian statehood. On our own, we have little leverage to move the dial in the Middle East. That’s why our approach centres on building international support with other countries that want to end this war.

Penny Wong is Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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