Daniel Hurst

Very powerful. A must watch 2 minute clip.

‘Double standards': Confidential DFAT documents warn inaction on Gaza will cost Australia credibility 'Allowing the crisis in Gaza to deepen with apparent impunity undermines our messaging about the rule of law — our adversaries use this to accuse us of double standards.'

Also, the FOI docs show DFAT recommended in June that the govt not give a direct answer to the question: “Do the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites breach international law?”

The suggested response, if “pressed” to answer, was: “Not here to provide legal analysis.” www.crikey.com.au/2025/08/06/d...

‘Double standards': Confidential DFAT documents warn inaction on Gaza will cost Australia credibility 'Allowing the crisis in Gaza to deepen with apparent impunity undermines our messaging about the rule of law — our adversaries use this to accuse us of double standards.'

“Allowing the crisis in Gaza to deepen with apparent impunity undermines our messaging about the rule of law — our adversaries use this to accuse us of double standards.”

A stark private warning in a DFAT document obtained under #FOI laws
www.crikey.com.au/2025/08/06/d...

‘Double standards': Confidential DFAT documents warn inaction on Gaza will cost Australia credibility 'Allowing the crisis in Gaza to deepen with apparent impunity undermines our messaging about the rule of law — our adversaries use this to accuse us of double standards.'

New by me for @crikey.com.au:

‘Double standards’: Confidential DFAT documents warn inaction on Gaza will cost Australia credibility

www.crikey.com.au/2025/08/06/d...

Has anyone told Minns about this other massive disruption and inconvenience?: www.news.com.au/entertainmen...

Senate Confirms Conspiracy Theorist To Lead National Counterterrorism Center

Hey no big deal and all but... Senate Republicans just confirmed Joe Kent, a conspiracy theorist with alarming ties to white nationalists and far-right groups, to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...

Isn't it interesting how much Australian media coverage of UN votes is preoccupied with whether Australia is 'harming' diplomatic relations - without accounting for the diplomatic 'harm' caused by the Israeli govt's conduct over past 14 months and more recent ministerial threats to annex West Bank?

More recently, in the face of international pressure the Israeli government has taken some steps to ease the aid access situation. But nowhere near enough.

Israel cuts off humanitarian supplies to Gaza as it seeks to change ceasefire deal Netanyahu wants Hamas to allow for release of hostages without troop withdrawal, in plan Israel says came from US

On 2 March 2025, the Israeli government announced that “as of this morning, all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease”, explicitly linking it to failed ceasefire-and-hostage-release negotiations with Hamas. (The announcement hurt civilians.) www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Extract from International Criminal Court statement Nov 2024: The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024. This finding is based on the role of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal. The Chamber found that their conduct led to the disruption of the ability of humanitarian organisations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza. The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care. The Chamber also noted that decisions allowing or increasing humanitarian assistance into Gaza were often conditional. They were not made to fulfil Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law or to ensure that the civilian population in Gaza would be adequately supplied with goods in need. In fact, they were a response to the pressure of the international community or requests by the United States of America. In any event, the increases in humanitarian assistance were not sufficient to improve the population’s access to essential goods. Furthermore, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that no clear military need or other justification under international humanitarian law could be identified for the restrictions placed on access for humanitarian relief operations. Despite warnings and appeals made by, inter alia, the UN Security Council, UN Secretary General, States, and governmental and civil society organisations about the humanitarian situation in Gaza…

The Nov 2024 statement by the ICC pre-trial chamber is troubling reading. But it’s worth noting that decisions allowing or increasing humanitarian assistance into Gaza “were often conditional” and usually just a response to international pressure, but still not sufficient.

Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant Today, on 21 November 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (‘Court’), in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, unanimously issued two decisions rejectin...

Nov 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli & Hamas leaders. Pre-trial chamber “found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare”. www.icc-cpi.int/news/situati...

Israel minister condemned for saying starvation of millions in Gaza might be ‘justified and moral’ EU, UK and France urge Israel’s government to distance itself from comments by its finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich

In August 2024, the far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said: “No one in the world will allow us to starve 2 million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages.” www.theguardian.com/world/articl...

Australia must use sanctions to hold Israel accountable for conduct in Gaza, MSF chief says Israel pursuing a policy of ‘deliberate deprivation’ and taking ‘disproportionate’ military action against Palestinians in Gaza, Dr Christos Christousays

On 28 May 2024, the global president of Médecins Sans Frontières urged Australia to impose sanctions on the Israeli government, saying he had “run out of words” to describe the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the collapse of the health system. www.theguardian.com/world/articl...

Extract from International Court of Justice order on 28 March 2024: (2) Indicates the following provisional measures: The State of Israel shall, in conformity with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and in view of the worsening conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza, in particular the spread of famine and starvation: (a) Unanimously, Take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care to Palestinians throughout Gaza, including by increasing the capacity and number of land crossing points and maintaining them open for as long as necessary;

Still on 28 March 2024, the ICJ set out an expanded and legally binding order for Israel to “ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance”.

On 28 Mar 2024, the ICJ issued further provisional measures stressing Israel’s obligations under the genocide convention and “in view of the worsening conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza, in particular the spread of famine and starvation”. www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...

On 26 Jan 2024, the ICJ issued legally binding orders for Israel to “take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians" in Gaza. www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...

Israel: Starvation Used as Weapon of War in Gaza The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the occupied Gaza Strip, which is a war crime. Israeli forces are deliberately blocking the delivery of water, food, a...

While there have been changes to access/restrictions at various stages, there was enough concern in Dec 2023 for Human Rights Watch to assert the Israeli government was “using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the Gaza Strip, which is a war crime”. www.hrw.org/news/2023/12...

YouTube video by Guardian Australia Israeli envoy to Australia insists Israel is 'absolutely' complying with international law

Israel’s then defence minister Yoav Gallant said two days after the 7 Oct 2023 Hamas attacks: “I ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip - there will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals & we act accordingly.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD95...

Thread 🧵

It is right that images of starving children in Gaza have moved our political leaders, but it is shameful that it took this long. This appalling situation did not develop overnight and there have been many many warnings signs over the past nearly two years.

The names of 17,000 children killed in Gaza have been tabled in the Australian parliament, with Labor joining the Greens and Crossbenchers to support Independent Fatima Payman's motion. The Coalition opposed the move #auspol

This is such an inspiring story. At a time when so many feel powerless, these students have made real change

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, say Israel-based human rights groups Reports detailing intentional targeting of Palestinians as a group, and systemic destruction of Palestinian society, add to pressure for action

"Two leading human rights organisations based in Israel, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, say Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the country’s western allies have a legal and moral duty to stop it."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Also an important gesture towards newsroom practices more accountable to readers: plans "to give readers the opportunity to weigh in on what you want covered"

Extract from Crikey editor-in-chief Sophie Black's piece on how to cover this parliament: "As always, our institutional view at Crikey is not merely that we are not here to cheerlead, but that everyone who wields power should be treated with scepticism. People in positions of power — no matter whether they are on your preferred political team, or you think they’re nice people, or their opponents are appalling — always need to be subjected to scrutiny. People in power are not our friends, and should never be given the benefit of the doubt."

The people we hold to account are not our friends - a refreshingly clear note from @sophieblackwords.bsky.social www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/28/c...

It shouldn’t need to be said, but Palestinian and Israeli lives have equal worth. It is horrific how many civilians, including children, have been killed in this genocide. I dearly hope we finally see a ceasefire agreed and the release of all unjustly detained, leading to accountability and justice❤️

Australia indemnifies US and UK ‘against any liability’ from nuclear submarine risks New text reveals any party can terminate their collaboration on nuclear-powered boats with just one year’s notice

Here's the August 2024 announcement of the three-country agreement www.theguardian.com/world/articl...

Curious the announcement today of a 50-year AUKUS treaty between Australia and the UK. There is already a 50-year treaty between the three countries (incl the US) which “shall remain in force until 31 December 2075” but which any party can terminate with “at least one year’s written notice”

Gaza children being killed or mutilated in ‘very extreme’ numbers, Australian doctor says Reporting what is being directly witnessed by MSF healthcare workers does not indicate loss of neutrality, Natalie Thurtle stresses

Eg in December 2023 - a year and a half ago - an Australian MSF doctor who coordinated medical aid to Gaza told me of the “huge proportion of children being killed or maimed for life”. The words haunt me. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

When the history of this genocide is written, possibly the most horrifying aspect will be how early and clear the warnings were about the sheer scale of harm inflicted on children

In Gaza I saw the suffering of children and the heroism of health workers trying to save them | Thienminh Dinh If our leaders allow this massacre to pass without consequence or condemnation, it will reveal a disturbing truth about what the world is willing to accept

Read every word of this. Do not look away www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...