Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has warned her Israeli counterpart Australia did not want to see an occupation of southern Lebanon, as the death toll from Israel’s fierce bombardment grows.
More than 1000 Lebanese have been killed, including more than 100 children, since Israel began striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon following the US and Israel’s surprise attack on Iran.
On Tuesday, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz announced plans for his country’s military to take control of swathes of southern Lebanon.
Mr Katz reportedly told a briefing in Tel Aviv the Israeli Defence Forces were planning to create a “security zone” between the Israeli border, known as the Blue Line, and the Litani River.
However, in a Tuesday night call to Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Senator Wong warned Australia supported Lebanon’s sovereignty.
“So, we do not want to see occupation of southern Lebanon by Israel,” she said.
“Australia again calls for parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and for the protection of civilians and aid workers.”
Senator Wong told Mr Sa’ar she was “gravely concerned” about the expansion of conflict in Lebanon, which has so-far displaced more than one million people, and that Hezbollah must disarm “in-line with previous agreements”.
It is understood Senator Wong also expressed concern over comments made by Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel, who suggested Israel’s border should be moved into Lebanon.
Mr Smotrich also called for territory illegally seized by Israel in Gaza and Syria to also be annexed.
Senator Wong is also understood to have raised concerns about intensifying violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank against Palestinians, and pressed for the return of Australian diplomats to the de facto Palestinian administrative capital of Ramallah.
Israel occupied much of southern Lebanon from 1982 until they were forced to withdraw in 2000 amid attacks by Hezbollah.
At the time, it had sought to stop attacks from the Palestine Liberation Organisation into Israel, however later established a “security zone” in Lebanon.
Hezbollah have repeatedly struck Israel since the outbreak of war in Gaza, and again after Israel’s attack on Iran.
During her call, Senator Wong said reiterated Australia’s condemnation of Iran and its “weaponisation of the Strait of Hormuz”.
She said the Islamic Republic’s de facto closure of the strait was “impacting oil and fuel prices worldwide, demonstrates the Iranian regime’s willingness to inflict economic pain on households and businesses across the world.
“Australia wants to see critical energy supplies flow to our partners and our region.”
