TRANSCRIPT
- Israel defends planned new offensive in Gaza, as UN ambassadors condemn its actions.
- Deputy Prime Minister repeats assertion that Australia doesn't provide weapons to Israel.
- And in basketball, Australia advances to the quarter-finals of the Asia Cup.
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Ambassadors for member states of the United Nations have condemned Israel's plan to take control of Gaza city, at an emergency Security Council meeting.
As ambassadors described the escalating crisis in the Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his plan for a new offensive.
“Last Thursday, Israel’s cabinet, Israel's security cabinet instructed the IDF to dismantle the two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps. Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily. We will do so by first enabling the civilian population to safely leave the combat areas to designated safe zones. In these safe zones, they'll be given ample food, water, and medical care, as we've done before."
France and China's representatives voiced fears over the Palestinians stuck in Gaza amid the violence, while the United States ambassador defended Israel's promise to provide for civilians.
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Defence Minister Richard Marles has repeated his assertion that Australia does not supply weapons to Israel and insisted that supplying parts for F-35 fighter jets is not the same thing.
Israel is one of several countries that deploys F-35s and Mr Marles was pressed to explain the distinction between these jets and weapons in an interview with the ABC.
Marles: "Oh let's be clear, we don't supply weapons to Israel."
Speers: "But the armoured steel and the F-35 component. That's what I'm asking about."
Marles: Well we are an F-35 country, and we have been that for a couple of decades. That is a multi-lateral arrangement with supply chains that are organised by Lockheed Martin and the United States, and have multiple suppliers in respect of all of those supply chains, so really that is a very different question."
Greens Defence and Foreign Affairs spokesperson, David Shoebridge, has issued a statement saying "parts of weapons are weapons".
He is urging the Albanese government stop the export of F-35 jet parts to Israel.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has completed his visit to New Zealand over the weekend, following discussions on defence and trade with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon.
Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon also visited Arrowtown on Sunday, and paid tribute to ANZAC soldiers.
"When Australia thinks of New Zealand, we think of the ANZAC. We think of the sacrifice that we'd made together in defence of our freedom. Australia and New Zealand are great friends. We think alike, we act alike on the international stage."
During Mr Albanese's two-day visit, the pair also discussed U-S tariffs, relations with China, and the war in Gaza.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has won diplomatic backing from Europe and the NATO alliance, ahead of a Russia-US summit this week.
Ukraine fears Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump may try to dictate terms for ending the three-and-a-half-year war, including ceding significant amounts of Ukrainian territory to Russia.
Mr Trump, who for weeks had been threatening new sanctions against Russia for failing to halt the war, announced instead on Friday that he would meet Putin on August 15 in Alaska.
A White House official says President Trump is open to Zelenskyy attending, but preparations are underway for only a bilateral meeting.
President Putin has ruled out meeting President Zelenskyy last week.
And the Ukrainian leader continues to call for more international pressure to be placed on Russia.
"Everyone sees that there has been no real step from Russia toward peace, no action on the ground nor in the air that could save lives. That is why sanctions are needed, pressure is needed, strength is needed. The strength, first and foremost, of the United States, the strength of Europe, the strength of all nations in the world that want peace and stability in international relations. If Russia does not want to stop the war, then its economy must be stopped."
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Now in basketball....
Australia has won a heated clash against Qatar by 110 to 82 at the Asia Cup in Jeddah, advancing directly to the quarter-finals.
22-year-old Jaylin Galloway scored 24 points for the Boomers, leading Australia to claim victory on the basketball court.
Coach Adam Caporn's youthful side have gone unbeaten in Group A - after also downing South Korea and Lebanon - as they chase a title three-peat.
The Boomers' next rival with be either Saudi Arabia or the Philippines, depending on which country qualifies at the quarter-finals today.
The final eight starts on Wednesday.
