The following comments can be attributed to Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia:
“Let’s be clear: this war could have ended on the 8th of October, 2023, if Hamas laid down its arms, and returned all of the hostages.
Hamas is intent on prolonging the war, and are refusing to sign a ceasefire deal Israel has agreed to.
The Australian Government has rightly acknowledged that Hamas can have no further role in governing the Gaza strip; a permanent ceasefire without the return of the remaining hostages and the surrender of Hamas will not achieve this goal.
Delivering aid in Gaza is a complex issue; it’s critical aid is delivered to Palestinians in desperate need, at the same time, it’s unquestionable that Hamas is stealing and controlling aid to strengthen their position.
The Australian Government, and international community, must come together to put maximum pressure on Hamas to surrender, and to ensure aid deliveries are not misused to embolden Hamas’ grip on Gaza.”