Question time is now underway in the House of Representatives and any posts on the Israel-Hamas conflict will be covered in the national news blog.
Earlier, Greens leader Adam Bandt held a press conference with Greens foreign affairs spokesperson, Senator Jordon Steele-John.
Bandt suggested ultimate responsibility for the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital lies with Israel, saying civilian casualties such as the deadly incident in Gaza were a consequence of its impending invasion.
Bandt also said the Israeli military changed its story on who was responsible for the Al Ahli hospital explosion, adding it was difficult to verify what really happened in the chaos of the unfolding conflict.
Speaking to press in Parliament House earlier, Bandt backed comments by government ministers Ed Husic and Anne Aly that Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ attack amounted to “collective punishment” of Palestinians in Gaza.
“Palestinian civilians are being collectively punished, and that is a war crime,” Bandt said.
Asked if the Greens believed there was reason to doubt Israel’s assertion its forces weren’t behind the explosion, Bandt said there were a number of things to say about that.
“Firstly, the Israeli military changed its story on it and initially said it was Hamas and then said it was Islamic Jihad, and secondly, it was very difficult in this environment to get independent verification,” he said, adding the Greens backed the calls for an international investigation into the bombing of the hospital.
“But however it happened, one thing is crystal clear, when you sanction an invasion of 2.2 million people, who are walled into an area half the size of Canberra, it will be civilians who are the casualties and that is tragically what we’ve seen with the bombing of the hospital, and that’s why the invasion must stop.
“Whoever is responsible, it is what happens.”