TRANSCRIPT:
"Stop bombing our children, stop bombing our hospitals, stop bombing our mosques, they're bombing our churches…"
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside the new Parliament in Canberra, for the first sitting day of parliament since the May federal election.
"It will be written in history books that the most kind, most generous, most dignified people were left to die alone, bombed, starved and buried beneath rubble."
They are demanding more from the nation's leaders, urging the federal government to impose sanctions on Israel and push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
"Where is Australia? How can shameful silence be anything but complicity? Where is Australia? Where is our so-called moral leadership? As families are incinerated by airstrikes funded by Western powers."
Some members of parliament were present at the rally.
Independent Senator Fatima Payman spoke to SBS World News, saying action speaks louder than words.
"Time for words is over, we need actions and I hope that the majority Labor government that we currently see, they will sanction Israel, they will cut ties and they will walk the talk."
She says this time three years ago she was one of the new senators being sworn in the parliament, remarking how drastically things have changed since.
"It wasn't a difficult decision to choose between whether I want to be there as part of a ceremonial procession where people are patting themselves on the back for being elected when there's a genocide going on and protesters are outside. It's a shame that we don't have more politicians out here. If they claim to uphold human rights and dignity and justice for all they should be out here, not patting themselves on the back inside."
Echoing a similar sentiment, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi spoke from inside the parliament.
"The Albanese government must immediately intervene and organise an aid drop of food into Gaza. That is the bare minimum that they should be doing."
In a joint statement, Australia and more than 20 other countries [[27/28]] including the United Kingdom, France and Canada are calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The countries involved condemn the aid situation and humanitarian assistance provided to Palestinians.
The majority of those killed recently were in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation [[GHF]] sites, backed by the U-S and Israel to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a network led by the United Nations.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong spoke to Sky News on this.
"I think that statement reflects distress that so many Australians feel about what they see in Gaza. They are concerned, distressed by the catastrophic humanitarian situation we are seeing.
The US was not a signatory.
But Minister Wong says US President Donald Trump has the greatest chance of any political leader of brokering a ceasefire.
"We are clear in our condemnation of Hamas, we are clear in our condemnation of our ideology and their actions. We call for the release of hostages. We also say that civilians must be protected and aid must be delivered unimpeded."
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC News "the slaughter has to end".
"We've seen too many images of children being killed, of horrific slaughter, of churches being bombed, the images that we have seen have been pretty clear that so much of this is indefensible."
It comes as the Labor party questions how Israel is delivering aid.
"With the shifts that have happened of how aid is being measured and the increasing sights of how aid is being managed into the area and also the increasing sight of how people are being killed on their way simply to get food and water."
He says the hostages still need to be released but stressed the war needs to end.
The Zionist Federation of Australia argues the war would have ended already if Hamas released all hostages and laid down its arms.
Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash spoke to SBS World News.
"Well I think the decision by the Albanese government to blame Israel for Hamas' disruption of aid into Gaza is incredibly disappointing. I think it's also disappointing that the Albanese government have yet again signed a statement attacking Israel."
She notes Hamas has welcomed the signed statement.
"I think what is disturbing is that Hamas - a listed terrorist organisation - have welcomed the signed statement by those countries including Australia."When asked if there is a moral obligation for Israel to ensure aid is flowing, she says aid should be getting to innocent civilians in Gaza, adding that there is also evidence aid has been diverted by Hamas.
Hamas denies it has stopped aid deliveries.
The United Nations and European Union say they have no evidence Hamas has been stealing aid.
Sarah Schwartz, Executive Officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, says the signing of the joint statement is a positive move but it's time for sanctions needed to sever connections with Israel.
"We're at the stage now, almost two years in, where there actually needs to be sanctions against the state of Israel and thinking about how we can disentangle our relationship from both the US and Israel who are engaged in committing these flagrant breaches of international law."
For months now the government's been increasing its criticism of Israel over the deaths of civilians in Gaza.
But this joint letter and the strength of today's comments from senior ministers signal a willingness to go further.
