Penny Wong travels to Middle East trying to find middle ground on Israel-Hamas war

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has left to visit the Middle East while trying to find a middle ground on the war between Israel and Hamas. Ms Wong has continued to walk the diplomatic tightrope in her travels to the Middle East; visiting Jordan, Israel and Palestinian territories. It was recently announced that Penny Wong will also not visit the sites of the October 7 attacks in southern Israel during her tour of the region. The move signals a further departure by the government from its Western allies, after voting in favour of an immediate ceasefire at the UN in December. Ms Wong will also visit Palestinian victims of settler violence in the West Bank during her visit – as calls mount from within Labor to pressure hardline Israeli settlers.