Plan International Welcomes Australia’s Decision to Sanction Israeli Ministers

Plan International welcomes the Australian Government’s newly announced sanctions against Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

This coordinated action by the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway responds to the incitement of extremist violence and serious human rights abuses against Palestinians. The joint international action reflects growing global concern over the continued worsening of the situation in the West Bank and Gaza.

Plan International continues to urge the Australian Government to use all diplomatic channels and influence at its disposal to advocate for the urgent delivery of food and medical assistance through the proper humanitarian channels, the protection of human rights and for an immediate ceasefire.

We call for the immediate resumption of principled humanitarian operations to deliver lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza. The blockade on aid, and ineffective and unsafe delivery of inadequate levels of food via the Israeli backed militarised scheme, starves civilians and means that more lives are lost.

Immediate action is needed to ensure the survival of millions of starving Palestinians in Gaza.