Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—The coalition will not be supporting this motion, but I want to put our motivation in context. The coalition is deeply saddened by civilian casualties on both sides of the Israeli-Gaza border. The coalition supports the government in providing aid for the United Nations to be used for humanitarian purposes in Gaza. The Israeli ceasefire declaration was important in attempting to bring an end to the violence, but Hamas must reciprocate. Hamas should respect the ceasefire conditions as outlined by the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 1860, notably containing specific guarantees to Israel’s security including an explicit condemnation of terrorist attacks on civilians and the demand that member states act to stop the smuggling of arms into Gaza. And finally, the coalition has pointed out that it was the conduct of Hamas that violated the ceasefire with its unprovoked rocket attacks on Israeli towns, villages and civilians. There can only be lasting peace if Hamas accepts the state of Israel’s right to exist within secure borders.