Australia urged to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir, Smotrich
The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) is calling on the Australian government to impose sanctions on the far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Rawan Arraf, ACIJ’s executive director, said that a recent joint statement from Canada, France and the UK shows that “it’s not too late” for Australia “to take concrete actions” over Israeli human rights violations, including through sanctions and an arms embargo.
“If Australia were to take its obligations seriously it would open criminal investigations into Smotrich’s alarming remarks on annihilating the Gaza Strip,” said Arraf.
“Sanctions are a bare minimum opportunity to deter and punish such severe violations,” she said.
Australia should also impose a “two-way arms embargo on Israel,” she added.
“Ongoing military trade and cooperation only serve to reinforce Israel’s unlawful occupation and empower its military apparatus.”
Australia’s foreign minister decries ‘horrifying’ reports of babies starving in Gaza
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has released a statement saying “the Israeli Government cannot allow the suffering to continue” after the UN’s aid chief said thousands of babies are at risk of dying if they do not receive food imminently.
“Australia joins international partners in calling on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza,” Wong said in a post on X. “We condemn the abhorrent and outrageous comments made by members of the Netanyahu Government about these people in crisis.”
Wong stopped short of outlining any measures Australia might take to encourage Israel to ensure enough aid reaches those in need, as the UK, France and Canada said they would do, in a recent joint statement.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) May 21, 2025
