TRANSCRIPT
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly pushing complete takeover of the Gaza strip.
- Indigenous opposition to stadium site for the Brisbane Olympics.
- And in sport, North Melbourne embrace pressure of being reigning AFLW premiers.
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Israeli media is reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing to expand the military offensive in Gaza with the aim of taking over the entire strip.
The reporting from Channel 12 also suggests that the country’s military chief has been told he should step down if he opposes the move.
It comes as the Israeli government faces growing pressure to end the war following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas.
On Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s war aims as he prepared to convene his security cabinet to decide on the next steps.
"It is still necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to release all our hostages, to ensure that Gaza it will no longer pose a threat to Israel. We are not giving up on any of these tasks. We'll do it through the great sacrifice of our male and female fighters.”
On Tuesday, Gaza’s health ministry said Israel had killed 26 people in the preceding day, and 94 the day before.
That brings the ministry’s estimated total death toll to 60,933.
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An interfaith coalition of Jewish, Muslim and Christian groups is calling on the federal government to sanction Israel and recognise a Palestinian state.
Their open letter in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald says Israel is committing genocide and Australia must take stronger action.
Dr Raten Jneid signed on behalf of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.
"Sanctions and the recognition of Palestinian state are not radical acts. They are necessary steps to uphold international law and human dignity. They would send a message that Australia is prepared to act on principle, not just words, and that the rights of Palestinians are not negligible."
Dr Julie Macken signed for the Sydney Archdiocese's Peace and Justice Office.
"We all know what it will take to stop it. It will take stop providing Israel with armaments and impose sanctions that send a clear message to the key players here that this is not going to be approved of by the international community. Anything less than that is just performative of peace, and I think the world has had a gutfull of performative of peace."
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An Indigenous group has launched legal action attempting to prevent the construction of a stadium that would be used for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane if it goes ahead.
The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation are asking the federal government to protect Victoria Park as a culturally significant site under federal law.
Yagara Elder Uncle Steven told NITV that the site, also known as Barrambin, holds deep significance.
“The remnants of our cultural and social and political being in South East Queensland is still there. It's remnant now there. We still know stories about it. We still understand what was going on there in the end of the day, and we want to preserve that – it's as simple as that – for all Australians, not only for First Nations people but for all Australians."
The appeal to the Commonwealth government comes after Queensland bypassed several heritage and planning laws to pave the way for construction at the site.
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A 26-year-old South Sudanese man has been found alive near Alice Springs after disappearing more than a week ago.
His family say it’s a miracle that Gach Top was spotted by local Arrernte people living at an outstation 40 kilometres from Alice Springs.
Police had suspended the official search days ago, but Sudanese community leader Chuol Yat says the search party never gave up hope.
“It was about seven when Gach was found, and those people called us, and they said, Gach is here in a car with us, covered in blankets, because the young man had no clothes on.”
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With their first AFLW premiership finally secured, North Melbourne are not daunted by the prospect of being the team to beat this season.
Led by new captain Jasmine Garner, the Kangaroos are welcoming the pressure that comes with being reigning champions.
They’ll open their campaign next Saturday afternoon against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, aware that the Cats will be the first of many eager to topple them.
Garner says the team has discussed the target on their backs and are ready to meet the challenge.
After years of falling short against powerhouses like Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, she said winning the flag was a breakthrough – and they'd far rather be in this position than chasing from behind.
