Penny Wong warns Israel that occupying Gaza could violate international law

<p>Australia’s foreign minister says two-state solution the only pathway to peace as Israel’s security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/08/australia-news-live-erin-patterson-sentence-hearing-mushroom-murders-melbourne-e-bike-delivery-riders-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Penny Wong has urged Israel not to follow through on its plans to occupy Gaza, a step she said could constitute a breach of international law.</p><p>In a statement to Guardian Australia, Australia’s foreign minister pushed back on Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to take control of the whole Gaza Strip. The plan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/08/israel-cabinet-approves-netanyahu-gaza-city-takeover-plan">approved by Israel’s security cabinet</a> after an overnight meeting on Thursday – to take over Gaza City – stopped short of that, but will likely displace tens of thousands of Palestinians already suffering from famine.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/08/gaza-city-takeover-penny-wong-calls-on-israel-not-to-pursue-benjamin-netanyahu-plan">Continue reading...</a>