Iranian diplomat’s comment on Israel triggers anger in Australia's government

By Anadolu staff

Iranian Ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi's comment on Israel triggered anger in Australia with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday calling it "unacceptable."

Albanese said his government will "act responsibly in Australia's national interest."

"We do that, we've made it very clear that the comments that were made are completely unacceptable," said the prime minister in an interview, according to his office.

On Saturday, Ambassador Sadeghi wrote on X: "Due to the blessing of the faith in Islam and belief in the verses of the holy Quran, the late leader of Hamas Resistance Movement, Martyr Sheikh Ahmed Yasin rectified wiping out the Zionist plague out of the holy lands of Palestine happens no later than 2027."

Yasin was the founder of Hamas who was assassinated by Israel in early 2000s.

According to Albanese, Australian Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian diplomat over his social media post.

"We've brought in the Ambassador to convey that. But it's also important that we have relations in Australia's interests and we continue to do that whilst condemning the comments that have been made," said Albanese.

The Albanese government has faced intense criticism for its stand on Palestine, with calls on Canberra to end arms supplies to Israel.

Pro-Palestinian protesters in Australia are also urging Albanese's government to impose sanctions on Israel for its war on Gaza.

Last month, Senator Fatima Payman also quit the ruling Labor Party after being suspended for supporting a parliament motion to recognize a Palestinian state.

Israel continues its devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since a Hamas attack last October despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 91,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

Over 10 months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid