Key Points
- Donald Trump on plane to Israel, Egypt for historic ceasefire deal
- Outrage after Senator’s comments at weekend rally
- Australia expected to play first Ashes Test minus skipper Pat Cummins
TRANSCRIPT
US President Donald Trump has departed for Israel and Egypt to mark the signing of a U-S-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Mr Trump described the trip as a very special event, saying both Israelis and Arabs were united in support of the agreement.
"They had 500-thousand people yesterday and today in Israel. And also, the Muslim and Arab countries are all cheering. Everybody is cheering at one time. That's never happened before. Usually If you have one cheering, the other isn't. The other is the opposite. This is the first time everybody is amazed and they're thrilled, and it's an honour to be involved."
The visit comes as Israel and Hamas begin the first phase of the peace deal that aims to end the two-year conflict sparked by the 2023 attacks.
Mr Trump says he hopes regional leaders will seize what he calls a rare opportunity to build a lasting peace in the Middle East.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed the imminent return of the last Israeli hostages from Gaza as a historic event, marking what he called the start of a new chapter for the nation.
Speaking in Jerusalem, Mr Netanyahu describes the moment as one of tears and joy, acknowledging the emotional toll of releasing Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal with Hamas.
"This is an emotional evening. An evening of tears, an evening of joy, because tomorrow the sons will return to their border. This is a historic event that some did not believe would happen. But our fighters believed. Many in the nation believed. And I believed."
Israel expects all remaining living hostages to be freed within hours, while aid agencies confirm new shipments of fuel and food are entering Gaza.
The exchange forms part of the U-S-brokered ceasefire deal, which also paves the way for President Donald Trump’s visit to the region, raising hopes of a lasting end to the two-year war.
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The federal government is under pressure to respond after independent Senator Lidia Thorpe made inflammatory remarks at a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne.
During her speech, Senator Thorpe stated she would burn down Parliament House to fight for justice in Palestine.
"We will fight every day, and we will turn up every day, and if I have to burn down Parliament House to make a point.... I am not there to make friends; I am there to get justice for our people."
The comments have been condemned by the Opposition, which says it will consider a censure motion when Parliament returns later this month, citing safety concerns for those working in Canberra.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry called the remarks disgusting and dangerous, while a government spokeswoman said Australians have a right to protest, but that demonstrations must remain peaceful and respectful.
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Qantas is facing potential heavy penalties after hackers leaked the personal data of up to 5.7 million customers online.
The airline was one of six global companies targeted by the cyber group Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters, which released the information after a ransom threat.
The breach is believed to have originated from one of Qantas’s outsourced offshore call centres using Salesforce software, exposing full names, contact details, dates of birth and even meal preferences.
Cyber Security Minister Tony Burke tells ABC Radio that outsourcing doesn’t remove Qantas’s responsibility to protect customer data.
"You can outsource parts of your business, but you don't outsource the law. So the obligations that are there in Qantas, and they know this to make sure that they provide cyber security. And that doesn't just mean having the right technical issues in place, it also means making sure that your people are fully trained. I've often referred to the concept that we don't just need to have the technical firewall. We need to have the human firewall in place as well."
Mr Burke adds that Australians should not search the Dark Web for the leaked data.
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To sport now and in cricket, Australian captain Pat Cummins has admitted he's unlikely to line up for the first Ashes Test against England next month.
This morning the bowler said he would need about a month in the nets, to ensure he's match fit as he returns from injury.
While he won't take to the pitch in Perth, Cummins hopes to be ready for the second Ashes test at the Gabba.
The 32-year-old will be replaced for this test but says he's confident he'll play soon.
