Muslim Australians call out Anthony Albanese over his strong support for Israel

Religious representatives have condemned the response to the violence in Israel and Gaza by Australia’s political leaders, accusing them of inciting hatred against the local Muslim community.

In a statement, the Australian Muslim Defense Network (AMAN) condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his assertion about Israel’s bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip.

“We stand by Israel and its right to defend itself,” the prime minister previously told ABC radio.

The network said through his comments Mr. Albania had sided with the occupying power and had not shown support for the Palestinians.

“Hundreds of Palestinian civilians also lost their lives,” they said.

“(He) has denied many grieving communities public empathy or support.”

Muslim leaders say Australia’s strong support for Israel has put their community at risk

They also called out opposition Peter Dutton after he said the government should support Israeli retaliation without restraint, saying his stance was extreme and “outside the bounds of international norms and the rule of law”.

“It also devalues ​​the lives of Palestinians, putting them and anyone associated with them at risk in Palestine and Australia,” the group wrote.

Mr Dutton also called for non-citizens preaching anti-Semitic speeches at pro-Palestinian protests to be deported.

“People with that hatred in their minds in their hearts – they have no place in our society,” he told 2GB.

Such responses had caused hate incidents against the Australian Muslim community and had detrimental effects on the health, welfare and safety of members, AMAN wrote.

More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed and more than 2,700 injured in a continuation of a 75-year conflict after the militant group Hamas breached the fence encircling Gaza on Saturday.

More than 1,000 Palestinians are believed to have died and more than 5,000 have been injured in retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza.

Among those killed in Israel was Australian grandmother Galit Carbone, 66, who died at the hands of Hamas militants who attacked her village near the Gaza border.

With about 10,000 Australians resident in Israel and even more there as tourists, repatriation flights will begin bringing the stranded home from Tel Aviv on Friday.

But the Muslim community said it would not help Australians stuck in Gaza as the closure of border crossings and ongoing Israeli airstrikes made travel to Tel Aviv effectively impossible.

“Planned repatriation must include real support for those trapped in Gaza and the West Bank,” Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Rateb Jneid said.

Australian Security Intelligence Organization director-general Mike Burgess said the national terrorism threat level remained ‘probable’ but raised concerns about pro-Palestinian protests taking place in Australian cities.

“I remain concerned about the potential for opportunistic violence with little or no warning,” he said Thursday.

Mr Burgess said ASIO was well placed to detect threats to security such as politically motivated violence and would monitor the situation closely.