1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Already and this this is the Daily. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:04,359 Speaker 2: This is the Dahlias. 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: Oh now it makes sense. Good morning, and welcome to 4 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: the Daily OS. It's Wednesday, the twenty eighth of May. 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: I'm Emma Gillespie. 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: I'm Lucy Tassel. 7 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: Earlier this week, Prime Minister Anthony Alberanzi called Israel's blockade 8 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: of food and aid supplies into Gaza outrageous. His comments 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: came as Australia joined twenty two other nations in demanding 10 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: Israel allow the full resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza's 11 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: two point one million residents. Today, we're going to break 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: down what's happening with aid delivery to Gaza, look at 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: how the international community has responded, and discuss Australia's position 14 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: on the issue. 15 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 2: Emma, I don't think there would be anyone listening to 16 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: this who isn't aware of kind of the broad brushstroke 17 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: of Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. But there definitely 18 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 2: have been a lot of headlines, specifically around the flow 19 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 2: of aid into Gaza and how that's been controlled in 20 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: recent days. Before we get into what the Prime Minister said, 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 2: kind of that most recent headline, can you give me 22 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 2: some context about what's been happening in terms of AID 23 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: getting into Gaza. 24 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: Yes, so this all stems back to the ceasefire deal 25 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: that was agreed between Hammas and Israel back in January. Now, 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: you might recall that that ceasefire was meant to have 27 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: three phases, and the first phase required Hamas to release 28 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: thirty three hostages over a six week period that included 29 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: releasing women, children, the elderly, the bodies of hostages who 30 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: were killed in captivity, and in exchange, Israel would release 31 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Phase one ended on the first 32 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: of March, and the US did propose extending that phase, 33 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: which would have seen all remaining hostages released by around 34 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: mid April, with approximately fifty eight hostages still estimated to 35 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: be held in Gaza, many of whom, though are presumed dead. 36 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: Hamas rejected the terms of that agreement, and negotiations for 37 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: the remaining phases have been ongoing four months. So Phase 38 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: one of three went ahead, and then we haven't had 39 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: any progress really on a ceasefire deal in the months since. 40 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: Since that ceasefire agreement ended, Israel has blocked AID from 41 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: reaching Gaza. It says that this is about pressuring Hamas 42 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 1: to release the remaining hostages who are still being held. 43 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: But it is a story that has gained international attention, 44 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: particularly over recent weeks, for the length that that AID 45 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: blockage continued for. 46 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, the UN has made a lot of 47 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 2: comments about the conditions in Gaza even before that blockade began. 48 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 2: Can you kind of give me a sense of what 49 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 2: has happened in the last couple of months, yees? 50 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: So, the World Health Organization says that the entire population 51 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: of Gaza, that's two point one million people, is now 52 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: facing prolonged food shortages, so nearly half a million people 53 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: are in what they've called a catastrophic situation of hunger, 54 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: acute malnutrition, starvation, illness, and death. The WHO has said 55 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: that while officially quote famine has not yet been declared, 56 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: it has said people are starving now and that three 57 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: quarters of Gaza's population are at emergency or catastrophic levels 58 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: of food deprivation. Earlier this month, we also heard the 59 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: WHO say that since this aid blockage began in March, 60 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: fifty seven children have reportedly died from the effects of malnutrition. 61 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: The UN has labeled Israel's decision to block aid as 62 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: quote cruel collective punishment of Palestinians and said that aid 63 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: should never be a bargaining chip. 64 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 2: So this blockade has been in place since March, and 65 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 2: then last week Israel announced it would allow us some 66 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: aid and to Gaza. What happened there? 67 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: Yes, last week we heard from the Israeli Prime Minister 68 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: Benjamin Etna, who announced that some aid would be allowed 69 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: to enter Gaza, and his office said that Israel was 70 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: allowing the entry of quote a basic amount of food 71 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: for the population in order to prevent the development of 72 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: a famine crisis in the Gaza strip. So that announcement 73 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: followed mounting pressure from the international community, and three days 74 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: later the UN reported that ninety lorry loads, so ninety 75 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: truckloads worth of humanitarian aid had entered Gaza. Now that 76 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: delivery included flower, baby food, medical equipment, those basic necessities 77 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: for everyday life in Gaza, where as you've mentioned, we 78 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: know conditions were already extreme a day later. So after 79 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: those ninety truckloads, another one hundred trucks entered Gaza, and 80 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: the UN welcomed this move. But it's described the deliveries 81 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: so far as nowhere near enough to meet the vast 82 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: needs in Gaza. 83 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 2: How's the international community responded to that? 84 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: So there have been two separate joint statements of note 85 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: that I'll take you through, issued by some of Israel's 86 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: closest allies. Interestingly, now, in one we heard from the 87 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: leaders of Canada, France and the UK call the level 88 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: of human suffering in Gaza intolerable. They said Israel's decision 89 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: to allow a quote basic quantity of food into Gaza 90 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: is wholly inadequate. In this statement, they called for the 91 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: restoration of aid by Israel and the release of hostages 92 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: by Humas. It is probably the most strongly worded language 93 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,679 Speaker 1: that we've seen from these leaders since the war began. 94 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: They said, if Israel does not cease its renewed military 95 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 1: offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid in the region, quote, 96 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: we will take further concrete actions in response. So some 97 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: really strong language there. In response Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nettnyah, 98 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: who said, quote, I say to President Macron, Prime Minister 99 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: Khani and Prime Minister Starma, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, 100 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: and kidnappers, thank you, You're on the wrong side of justice. 101 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: By way of an update, on all of this, though 102 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: we have since seen those concrete steps that were alluded 103 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: to in this statement from France, the UK and Canada 104 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 1: begin to be taken. So the UK has suspended trade 105 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:20,799 Speaker 1: talks with Israel as its direct action or response against 106 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: the aid blockage, and the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy 107 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: called Israel's blockade incompatible with the principles that underpin the 108 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: UK Israeli bilateral relationship. 109 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: We'll be back with the rest of the deep dive 110 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: after a quick message from our sponsor. Obviously we've heard 111 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 2: from the Prime Minister. He's not the only person who 112 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: can kind of speak on behalf of Australia. What have 113 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: we heard from other Australian authorities. 114 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 1: So last week Australia actually joined with twenty two other nations, 115 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: including Canada, France, Germany, the UK to issue a joint 116 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: statement and essentially this statement has called on Israel to 117 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: allow the full resumption of aid into Gaza, and the 118 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: statement said, quote, food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted, 119 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: the population faces starvation. Gaza's people must receive the aid 120 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: they desperately need. It also said that humanitarian aids should 121 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,239 Speaker 1: never be politicized. This is a message that we've heard 122 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: time and time again from the United Nations and that 123 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: UN and humanitarian NGOs must be responsible for delivering this aid. 124 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: That's a point that we're going to touch on a 125 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: little bit later, but I did want to just quickly 126 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: give you a bit more on what Prime Minister Anthony 127 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: Albanesi said individually when he was asked about the situation 128 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: in Gaza. Here's a little bit of what he said. 129 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 3: Israel's actions are completely unacceptable. It is outrageous that there 130 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 3: be a blockade of food and supplies to people who 131 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 3: are in need in Gaza. 132 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: Now at the time of recording, it's worth mentioning Australia 133 00:07:55,600 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: has not taken any concrete steps or action against Israel, 134 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: like what we've seen with the trade talks being suspended 135 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: between Israel and the UK. But we did hear one 136 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: Labor member, Ed Hugh Sick, who was recently dumped from 137 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: the front bench. He might have heard his name in 138 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: the news lately in terms of that parliamentary reshuffle that 139 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: he has called on his party to take further action. 140 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: So Husick wrote in an opinion piece for The Guardian 141 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: that his government should be firstly calling in the Israeli 142 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: ambassador to Australia to express the quote unequivocal demand we 143 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: share that the Israeli government must provide more aid, and 144 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: he also suggested that Australia should increase its financial contribution 145 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: to aid in Gaza. Now, so far we haven't heard 146 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: Anthony Albanezi commit to those steps. We do know, at 147 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: least from Husick's part, that there is some agitation within 148 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: the Labor Party. 149 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: Australia's foreign policy is often guided by what the US does. 150 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 2: What have we heard from them? I mean, given also 151 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 2: that the US is a staunch ally of Israel. 152 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 1: So this kind of ties back into this pressure about 153 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: who is responsible for AID and calls for the UN 154 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: and humanitarian NGOs to be the ones who lead that aid. 155 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: Because we've seen a bit of controversy while this global 156 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: pressure has been mounting around a US backed Gaza aid program. 157 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: It's called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation the GHF. This is 158 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,239 Speaker 1: an NGO, but it does have the support of American 159 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: and Israeli officials. Now, both governments want aid distribution responsibilities 160 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: to be transferred to the GHF from the United Nations. 161 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: So this foundation would under this plan be responsible for 162 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: the delivery and roll out of aid in Gaza. What 163 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: has the United Nation said about Well, the UN has 164 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: many concerns with this proposal. Are run through a few 165 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: of the most talked about ones right now. The concerns 166 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: are around the GHF restricting who can access food, so 167 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: under this plan, aid would be centralized to fort distribution sites. 168 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: Those GHF sites would be secured by private military contractors. Now, 169 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: Israel has been accused of being deliberately vague about how 170 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: the operation would work specifically in Gaza, and there are 171 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: fears that residents would have to travel potentially really far 172 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: and wide to access any aid, and with so much 173 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: of the population at risk of famine, with other shortages 174 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: to healthcare and medication. 175 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,559 Speaker 2: Access petral to fuel cars exactly. 176 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: So there are many concerns about who will actually be 177 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: able to get AID if it's centralized to those four spots, 178 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: and humanitarian groups have also flagged privacy concerns. They say 179 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: that aid recipients will have to consent to biometric surveillance 180 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: with facial recognition technology being implemented to access AID, so 181 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: concerns around security the private military contractors roundly, this plan 182 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: has been condemned by the United Nations strongly. 183 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 2: Well, given that response, do we think it's actually going 184 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: to go ahead? And do we know when that might happen? 185 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this role out. 186 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: We've seen that uncertainty kind of intensify this week with 187 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: the CEO of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation actually resigning. 188 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 2: Oh wow. 189 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: His name is Jake Wood, and he announced he was 190 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: stepping back over concerns around the GHF's independence. He claims 191 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: that under the current plan, it would not be able 192 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: to deliver aid in Gaza without breaching These are his words, 193 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which 194 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: I will not abandon, would said. In a statement, The 195 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 1: GHF board said that it is disappointed that Wood has 196 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: decided to resign, but it's reiterated that the organization is 197 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: committed to delivering aid in Gaza. The US State Department 198 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: has also maintained its support for the GOHF, so some 199 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: significant support there. It doesn't seem to be going away. 200 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: Some key players who aren't backing down and will continue 201 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: monitoring the situation. 202 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for breaking that down for us, Emma, and 203 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 2: as you mentioned will certainly continue following this story as 204 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 2: it develops. 205 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to The Daily os. 206 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: We will be back a little bit later on today 207 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: with your evening headlines, but until then, have a great day. 208 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 2: My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda 209 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 2: Bungelung Kalkutin woman from Gadighl country. The Daily oz acknowledges 210 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 2: that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the 211 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 2: Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres 212 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 2: Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the 213 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 2: first peoples of these countries, both past and present.