Australia to Netanyahu: 'Strength not measured by kids you starve'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 10:14
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Australia's Home Affairs minister has pushed back against Benjamin Netanyahu’s attacks on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, defending its stance on Palestine and condemning Israeli aggression on Gaza.

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Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, at a press conference on February 16, 2025. (Screengrab)

Australia’s political leadership has firmly rejected incendiary remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as tensions escalate between Canberra and "Israel" over the ongoing Israeli aggressions on Gaza.

The row intensified after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke cancelled the visa of far-right Knesset member Simcha Rothman, citing Rothman’s inflammatory remarks referring to children in Gaza as “enemies” of "Israel". Burke defended the decision, stating it was made to protect Palestinian and Muslim Australians.

“Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry,” Burke said in a Radio National interview on August 20, highlighting the immense civilian toll of the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.

Burke also emphasized that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had communicated Canberra's position directly to Netanyahu before the public escalation, rejecting claims that the move was diplomatically disrespectful.

Netanyahu’s escalation

The dispute reached a new level after Netanyahu publicly called Albanese a “weak politician who betrayed Israel,” in a post from his office on X. He also sent a letter accusing the Australian government of “pouring fuel on this antisemitic fire” and condemned its recognition of a Palestinian state, referring to it as an act of “appeasement.”

The letter was circulated by the right-wing Australian Jewish Association, which had arranged Rothman’s planned speaking tour.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician
who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 19, 2025

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil criticized Netanyahu’s remarks as “disappointing” and pointed out that such rhetoric does not align with diplomatic norms.

“Our prime minister does us very proud on a global stage. He does it by being respectful,” she said. “We determine our national interest and that is how we’re approaching the conflict in the Middle East.”

Albanese downplayed the personal nature of Netanyahu’s statements, saying he had given Netanyahu a chance to present a political solution. “I don’t take these things personally,” he said. “He has had similar things to say about other leaders.”

Opposition reaction and diplomatic fallout

In response to Australia’s rejection of Rothman's visa, "Israel" revoked visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, further straining diplomatic ties.

Burke clarified that the visa cancellation had nothing to do with Rothman’s positions on Hamas but was directly linked to his dehumanizing remarks about Palestinian children.

“If anyone wanted to come on a public speech tour, and they had those views publicly expressed about Israeli children, I would block the visa,” Burke stated. “I am going to not have a lower bar for the protection of views that are bigoted views against the Palestinian people.”