December 27, 2023
All efforts will be made to help hurting Palestinian and Jewish communities over the holiday period, the acting NSW premier says as protests continue over the war in Gaza.
The state government will continue engaging with multicultural communities and consider any proposals for assistance, Prue Car said.
"It has been a difficult period for a lot of people who have family all over the world and a lot of people are hurting at the moment," she told reporters in Western Sydney on Wednesday.
"That is why the government is solely focused on ensuring that we maintain community cohesion and community harmony."
The multicultural minister was also working to ensure support was reaching communities reeling from the situation in the Middle East, she added.
"If there are ways that we can greater support these communities then we are open to those discussions," she said.
"Western Sydney is a greatly multicultural place, we want to make sure it stays that way."
It comes after Israel's ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon criticised the Albanese government for supporting calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.
It was contradictory messaging to Australia's support of Israel's right to defend itself, he told The Australian.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson added his voice to the criticism, saying a ceasefire would only allow time to regroup for Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by the Australian government.
"A ceasefire keeps Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip, it keeps them in control of the people of Gaza and to continue to use them as human shields and hostages for their war on Israel," he told Sky News.
"It's perfectly legitimate and acceptable for Israel to seek to remove Hamas as a threat to its people in perpetuity.
"Otherwise, we'll see the events of the 7th of October again and again and again - Hamas has very publicly, clearly said that that will continue."
Albanese government ministers have consistently backed Israel's right to defend itself, but said the way it does so matters as they called for Tel Aviv to act in accordance with international law.
The United Nations resolution that Australia supported calls for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire".
It also demanded the unconditional release of all hostages, and for aid to reach Palestinians.
Hamas' attack on October 7 killed 1200 Israelis and resulted in 240 people being taken hostage, according to Tel Aviv.
The death toll in Gaza has now escalated to nearly 21,000 with thousands more feared buried under the rubble, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Gaza's 2.3 million residents are facing crisis levels of hunger as Israel limits food, water and fuel through a blockade, a UN-backed food security report found.
Israeli military actions has intensified over Christmas as Tel Aviv declared the war would continue for at least several more months, despite calls for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow for aid and hostage exchanges.
