Penny Wong Warns Israel Against Lebanon Occupation as Conflict Escalates

Australia has reaffirmed its support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, urging Israel not to occupy southern Lebanon, following reports that the Netanyahu government is planning a “defensive buffer” zone against Hezbollah.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong communicated Australia’s position to her Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, on Tuesday night, according to a statement released Wednesday. Although acknowledging Israel’s security concerns and condemning Iran’s actions and unrest in the Strait of Hormuz, Wong was unequivocal in opposing any Israeli seizure of Lebanese territory.

“Australia is gravely concerned at the expansion of the conflict in Lebanon, the loss of life and displacement of more than one million civilians,” Wong said. “We discussed Hezbollah’s continued strikes on Israel and agreed they must disarm in line with previous agreements. Australia supports Lebanon’s sovereignty – so we do not seek to see occupation of southern Lebanon by Israel.”

The statement from Wong follows reports in The Guardian that Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, intends for Israeli forces to “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani” river, approximately 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border.

Sa’ar, in a social media post, stated he had emphasized to Wong “the massive scale of missile, rocket, and drone attacks against Israel from Lebanon,” asserting Israel is acting to defend its citizens. He also criticized the Lebanese government for failing to curb Hezbollah’s activities.

Australia has increased its aid to Lebanon, announcing an additional $5 million to support civilians, particularly women and children, impacted by the conflict. Approximately 15,000 Australians reside in Lebanon, and over 8,000 Australians and permanent residents have been repatriated from the Middle East since the outbreak of the war.

Wong advised Australians in Lebanon to depart if it is safe to do so, warning against delaying evacuation.

The conversation between Wong and Sa’ar also touched upon lingering tensions between Australia and Israel, including the sanctions imposed by Australia last June on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians, and Smotrich’s support for altering Lebanon’s borders. Australia’s mission to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah remains closed after Israel revoked the visas of Australian diplomats in August, a decision the Albanese government is actively seeking to reverse.

Discussions also included escalating settler violence in the West Bank and Israel’s tightening control over the occupied territory, including recent amendments to laws allowing the sale of land in the West Bank to non-Arabs and transferring building authority to Israeli civil administration. Katz and Smotrich jointly stated following the law changes that they would “continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state.”