Penny Wong to visit Israel and announces additional support for Gaza

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has announced $21 million in extra assistance for the humanitarian crisis stemming from the Israel and Hamas conflict in Gaza. The funding boost announced on Tuesday night in Jordan takes Australia’s total contribution since Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7 to over $46 million. The subsequent conflict has seen the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, meaning the funds will go to humanitarian aid. Ms Wong in her tour of the Middle East has continued to advocate for peace, however, she is walking a diplomatic tightrope trying to reach a middle ground between both sides. The Foreign Affairs Minister has also received criticism from Australia for her decision to not visit the sites of the October 7 massacres.