In Brief
- Penny Wong has been asked to meet with an activist who alleges she was sexually assaulted by an Israeli soldier.
- The foreign minister said she has asked for a transparent investigation into the matter.
Australia has assisted 415 people to leave Gaza under Israeli occupation, it has been revealed, while the federal government urges Israel to transparently investigate the mistreatment of Australians on controversial aid missions.
The issue of Australia's support for the Palestinian territories, Palestinians and Australians in the region was the subject of several flashpoints during Senate estimates on Thursday.
Watching on at parliament were three women who joined global efforts to deliver medical support and aid by sea to the annexed territory.
Those aboard allege sexual abuse and violence at the hands of Israel's defence force, which intercepted their fleet and detained them before their eventual release.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong was scathing of a request by Greens senator David Shoebridge on whether she would meet with the trio so they could detail their abuse.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I don't respond to requests that are made in a political forum like this from a political party like yours," she said.
In a later press conference, Shoebridge said Wong committed to meeting with the group.
Juliet Lamont, who alleges she was raped by an Israeli soldier, wanted Wong to speak about the experiences of the flotilla activists in a public setting, even if doing so involved highly personal details.
"Something as barbaric as this needs to be talked about at every single moment and ordinary Australians need to know what happened," she said.
In estimates, Wong described the alleged mistreatment as horrific and unacceptable.
Pressed by senator David Pocock on whether she had advocated for an independent probe, the foreign minister said the government was "pressing for a swift and transparent investigation" following talks with her Israeli counterpart on the matter.
"We would want the most thorough investigation possible but we're not the ones who are able to determine what that investigation is," she said.
She objected to further questioning on the matter by Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, who asked the minister if she believed the women.
While Wong said she did, Faruqi wasn't satisfied, interjecting that she had "done nothing to support these women" and was allowing "the criminals to investigate their own crimes"
The hearing was then shut down for lunch after the chair was unable to control proceedings.
Earlier in the full-day hearing, Shoebridge sought answers on whether the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) was failing to lodge the necessary paperwork to allow Australians to leave Gaza.
Wong accused Shoebridge of living in a non-factual "pretend universe" and "performing for social media".
DFAT officials revealed that 415 Australian citizens, permanent residents or their immediate family had been supported to leave the war-ravaged region.
That involved a complex process including multiple Australian agencies, Israel and its occupying agency COGAT, and Jordan.
The Greens also asked why, when Australia had formally recognised Palestine as a state, it had not yet moved to accept the credentials of its ambassador, prompting a back-and-forth which also had to be cooled down by a morning tea break.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
