For many months now, Australians have been calling for our prime minister to accept his responsibility as the nation’s leader to sanction Israel in response to its military atrocities and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Diplomats, lawyers, doctors and health professionals, former colleagues and current parliamentarians together with the Australian Council of Trade Unions and international aid organisations have all consistently been urging Anthony Albanese to act to disassociate Australia from an ally who has been declared a war criminal and who continues to ignore international law.

Many other Australians have also been demanding action against the Netanyahu regime by regularly supporting weekly rallies and marches. The massive march over Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the co-ordinated Palestine Day of Action in 40 cities and towns, should finally have convinced the Albanese Government that its restrained and tentative response to this international humanitarian crisis has been rejected by many Australians and has failed to make any impact on the Netanyahu regime.

instead of confronting the warnings of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, the Australian Government has relied on historic friendship, quiet diplomacy, selective concern, creative distraction and ongoing avoidance of its responsibility to respond as a signatory to the Genocide Convention. However, if this was part of some grand plan to persuade Israel to accept a ceasefire and the two-state solution, the Australian Government has failed dismally to show Israel that it must cease its genocidal rampage.

While Australia has imposed 1600 sanctions on Russia, only two sanctions have been placed on the Netanyahu regime. Just last week, the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong proudly announced further sanctions to bring down the price of Russian oil. This is in response to the invasion and bombing of Ukraine, yet the Albanese leadership team meekly accepts Israel’s invasion of Gaza and neighbouring countries. What kind of parallel universe does the Albanese leadership inhabit? Australians assume our elected representatives are mainly responsible individuals many of us have respected as they pursued successful political careers with compassion and vision. What has so caused these individuals to abandon their commitment to being proactive in the defence of human rights and the rule of law?

Many of us can remember the Australian Government’s strong response to the global campaign to end apartheid in South Africa. It was economic and sporting sanctions that finally ended apartheid. The Albanese Government should have recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv many months ago. The ACTU ‘s call for sanctions has been ignored and any talk of an arms embargo on Israel has been openly derided by the military obsessed minister for Defence.

Certainly, the prime minister’s announcement that he will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly this week is welcome, even if a long overdue implementation of Labor Party policy. However, what more must the Australia Government do to stop the ruthless carnage by the Israel Defence Force as it targets civilians in Gaza City?

Does the prime minister recognise that at the UN General Assembly he must join with other Western leaders who are actively advancing ways to isolate Israel? Or have his political minders persuaded him that he must not jeopardise that long-awaited meeting with Donald Trump?

While the US remains protective of Israel, the vast majority of nations have long since abandoned this pariah state because of its extremism in targeting civilians and systematic destruction of Gaza.

Amid ongoing calls for a ceasefire and recognition of the two-state solution a number of nations have adopted sanctions to put pressure on Israel’s economy. The European Commission, representing 27 countries, has announced suspension of trade concessions for Israel as well as new tariffs. This announcement includes individual European assets and a ban on travel. In August, the German chancellor announced there would be no export of military equipment that could be used in Gaza.

Scientific, educational, sporting and cultural sanctions are being considered by nations, with Spain threatening to withdraw from the 2026 World Cup and five countries announcing they will not participate in 2026 Eurovision if Israel is permitted to participate.

Albanese flies to New York on 21 September — the International Day of Peace — but to date there is little sign that Australia plans any major initiative in considering a peaceful future for both Palestine and Israel.

The gathering of world leaders at the UN comes at a time when global conflict grossly outstrips respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

Albanese has a voice and a platform to demand a fresh focus on peace-building as a priority of his government. Will he accept this urgent challenge?

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.