Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson fly to Israel together on a surprise trip – becoming the first Australian pollie to travel to the war zone after the Hamas conflict broke out
Scott Morrison has become the first Australian politician to visit Israel in the wake of the Jewish state’s conflict with Hamas.
The former prime minister landed at Ben Gurion Airport together with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday afternoon.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join former Prime Minister Johnson in Israel in a demonstration of solidarity with the people and State of Israel and the Jewish community around the world,” Mr Morrison said on Sunday.
“It is an opportunity to understand first-hand what is happening on the ground, to honor those who have been lost, to show support for those who have suffered and are now involved in this terrible conflict and to discuss how to move forward. ‘
Scott Morrison (left, pictured with Boris Johnson, right and Israeli politician Danny Danon) has become the first Australian politician to visit Israel since the Hamas conflict broke out
Hamas’ cross-border attack on Israel on October 7 left at least 1,400 people dead and 240 people taken hostage. Four hostages have now been released.
Israel has since closed its borders to the area, launched a ground attack and continued bombardments have killed at least 9,500 people.
Mr Morrison, whose government recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2018, signed a joint letter last week unequivocally condemning Hamas’ actions and creeping anti-Semitism in Australia.
The former prime minister landed at Ben Gurion Airport together with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday afternoon
The six former leaders said there was no place for racial or religious hatred in Australia and warned the war between Israel and Hamas would “pit Australians against each other”.
“It was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and its grotesque brutality and violence rivaled that of ISIS,” the statement said, referring to the ISIL armed group.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously said he had no plans to visit Israel after the conflict. He has repeatedly expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but sharpened his rhetoric last week by insisting that Israel must comply with the rules of law.
“The civilian toll is rightly of great concern around the world,” he told a conference in Melbourne on Thursday.
“Every effort must be made to ensure that innocent civilians are protected as much as possible.
“It’s very difficult because of the way Hamas operates, mixing the use of civilian infrastructure with what is essentially military infrastructure… but every effort must be made.”