Australia Condemns Israeli Strike on Qatar as 'Wrong,' Warns of Ceasefire Threat
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says attack on US ally violates sovereignty, imperils Hamas hostage negotiations
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Australia condemned Israel's overnight attack on Qatar as "the wrong thing to do," with Foreign Minister Penny Wong warning the strike against the US ally violates sovereignty and threatens fragile ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
The attack targeted Hamas leadership who had been in Qatar's capital Doha working on the latest ceasefire proposal, according to Wong's interview on Sky News First Edition this morning. Hamas claims key members survived despite multiple casualties from the strike.
"We think this was the wrong thing to do by Israel," Wong said. "I think this strike imperils that ceasefire, violates Qatar's sovereignty, and risks regional escalation and further escalation, which is in no one's interests."
The strike threatens to derail ceasefire talks that Qatar has been mediating alongside the United States for months. Wong said Qatar is now unlikely to want continued involvement in ongoing negotiations, which would delay the entire peace process.
Qatar has been working extensively with the US administration to broker a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of hostages taken during Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The Gulf nation has hosted negotiations and put "an enormous amount of work in" to the diplomatic efforts, Wong said.
When pressed on whether the attack could be justified given Hamas's role in holding hostages and delaying peace talks, Wong emphasized the violation of Qatar's territorial sovereignty.
"The issue is this is Qatar's sovereignty that we're describing and this is Qatar that the attack occurred in," Wong said. "We all have our very clear position on Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. We've listed it as such. We condemn the horrific acts of October 7 and we call on them to release hostages."
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However, she stressed that "this is an attack in Doha on a country that has been working with the United States to try and broker a ceasefire to ensure the hostages are released."
Wong noted that the US administration has expressed similar concerns about the strike overnight, putting Washington in a difficult position as an ally to both Israel and Qatar.
"I think the US is the country that is uniquely placed to broker a ceasefire," Wong said, adding that Australia wants Special Envoy Steve Witkoff "to be able to land a ceasefire and hostage deal to return the hostages safely and respectfully."
The foreign minister could not specify how much the peace process has been delayed but expressed hope that Qatar would continue its mediation role despite the attack.
"I hope that Qatar can continue to stay engaged because we need them to be," Wong said. "And this is why this decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu is so destructive, because these negotiations were fundamentally about ending the war and having hostages return and having the situation in Gaza alleviated."
The strike marks a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict, potentially widening the war beyond Gaza and raising fears of broader regional involvement.
Pacific Security Contest Continues
In a separate development, Wong acknowledged disappointment that Australia's proposed defense agreement with Vanuatu could not be signed, highlighting ongoing competition with China for influence in the Pacific region.
"I've been very upfront with the Australian people that we are in a permanent contest now in the Pacific," Wong said. "We lost the opportunity to be the only partner of choice and now we work to be the partner of choice in Australia's interests and the interests of peace and security in the region."
Wong said lengthy, respectful discussions are required for such agreements and defended Australia's renewed Pacific engagement after what she described as "a decade" lost under the previous coalition government.
"We came to government when we had lost a decade under the coalition, including through their position on climate change, but as much their neglect of the Pacific, we've tried to turn that around," Wong said.
The foreign minister emphasized Australia's position that Pacific security is best preserved "if the Pacific family works together, if security is provided through members of the Pacific family, which of course includes Australia."
When asked whether China is simply more persuasive in the region, Wong maintained that patient diplomacy remains Australia's approach with all Pacific nations.
New Safety Initiative Launched
Wong also announced the launch of new online safety resources on the Smart Traveller website, aimed at protecting young Australians from methanol poisoning while traveling overseas.
The initiative responds to the recent deaths of two Australian teenagers, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, who died in Laos from methanol poisoning.
"When I spoke with the families that we said that we obviously want justice for these deaths, but we also want to try and work to make sure this doesn't happen to another family, another young Australian," Wong said.
The resources include safety tips for partying abroad, guidance for parents, schools and universities, and specific advice for young travelers about avoiding contaminated alcohol.
"If it don't drink cheap booze and free shots because it's obviously a higher risk," Wong advised. "Not every country has the sorts of standards around alcohol that we do. And, of course, if methanol is in your drink, you can't taste it, but it's deadly."
Wong emphasized that sealed bottles and cans from reputable suppliers remain the safest option for travelers, despite the challenges of finding such products in some overseas destinations.
The foreign minister acknowledged that overseas travel after finishing school has become "almost a rite of passage for Australians" and "a pretty common experience" for young people seeking adventure abroad.
The Smart Traveller website now includes comprehensive resources for young travelers, parents and educational institutions on how to minimize risks while maintaining the traditional Australian experience of overseas adventure travel.
The methanol poisoning deaths highlight the ongoing risks faced by young Australian travelers in regions where alcohol safety standards may differ significantly from domestic regulations.
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