Australia's top diplomat remarks on Iran-Russian ties spark outrage over Canberra's stance on Gaza war

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong's comments on Iran-Russia ties on Wednesday sparked outrage, with netizens questioning Canberra's stance on Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians in over 11 months.

“Australia condemns Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its illegal war on Ukraine," said Wong on X.

While Wong called out Iran’s alleged arms transfer to Russia, hundreds of anti-war protesters disrupted a major defense expo in Melbourne on Wednesday, clashing with police during a rally against Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

“It's a dangerous escalation in Iranian-Russian cooperation,” Wong said of the alleged arms transfer.

Her statement came in response to the US’ new sanctions on Iran for delivering “lethal” arms to Russia.

Iranian officials have consistently denied the West's claims of supplying weapons to Russia.

“We support the action of our partners and will continue to work with them to hold Iran and Russia to account,” said Wong, whose statement invited dozens of comments questioning Australia’s silence on US arms supplies to Israel, which has continued onslaughts on Gaza since Oct. 7 of last year.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes on displaced Palestinians' tents in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, killed at least 40 people and injured several more.

In response to Wong, Brisbane-based X user @anna_prole wrote: "But no condemnation of the US sending 2000lb bombs to Israel to evaporate refugee camps, hospitals, and babies?"

“The people of Gaza are running out of time, there are cases of polio…” Anna added.

According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, the Israeli army Tuesday used massive bombs supplied by the US to strike a “humanitarian safe zone” in the southern Gaza Strip, burying entire families living in tents.

Israeli warplanes dropped three US-made 2,000-pound (900 kg) MK-84 bombs on a tent camp in al-Mawasi at midnight, while civilians were sleeping, it added.

“Still waiting for you to condemn US for supplying missiles to Israel,” another X user @LoveCrochet6 asked the Australian foreign minister.

Washington last month announced an additional $3.5 billion for Israel to spend on US-made weapons and military equipment.

“I condemn your 11-month genocide-complicity, cowardice and open support for a terrorist state. Stop feigning morality and adherence to international law,” wrote @socialthiest on X.

“Where's the condemnation of Israel's illegal genocide of Palestine, Penny? You jump to condemn countries on the other side of a proxy war, but you stand up for the most obvious genocide in modern history. I smell hypocrisy,” said Queensland-based @SenpaiCasey2023 in response to Wong.

Notably, the Australian foreign minister has called on Israel to accept the UN Security Council-backed cease-fire in the besieged Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza.