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US secretary of state Marco Rubio condemns sanctions against Israeli leaders
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, issued a strong statement condemning the sanctions against two Israeli cabinet members. He said:
These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war. We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace.
Marco Rubio, left, has fiercely defended Israel’s campaign against Hamas. Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is. The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.
Rubio is a staunch ally of US president Donald Trump and has fiercely defended Israel’s campaign against Hamas. In February, he said the group “must be eradicated” and earlier this month he imposed sanctions on four judges on the international criminal court in retaliation for the group issuing arrest warrants for top Israeli officials.
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Lidia Thorpe says every death in custody linked to ‘ongoing trauma and pain and loss’
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe spoke to ABC News this morning about the recent deaths of two Indigenous men in the Northern Territory while in police custody. She said:
It’s just ongoing trauma and pain and loss and fear. With so many deaths in custody … It’s a question on everyone’s mind of when will this end? When will this ongoing trauma and pain and loss end for our people?
It puts fear into parents, particularly about their kids, their boys growing up, and there’s no support for these families. You know, they’re just reeling in loss and pain.
Thorpe said communities were ‘reeling in loss and pain’ after the deaths of two men in custody in recent days. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
She once again called on the federal government to bring together state and territory leadership to figure out new efforts to address deaths in custody.
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Updated at 18.04 EDT
Wong says statement behind sanctions just as important as sanctions themselves
Wong also appeared on ABC News this morning, adding:
The most important thing to note … is that we are acting with others. You’ve heard me speak about the fact that Australia can’t shift the dial on the Middle East by ourselves …
It means that they won’t be able to travel to Australia, and if there are any assets held in Australia, they will be frozen, and people won’t be able to provide them with financial support.
She said the statement behind the sanctions was just as powerful as the sanctions themselves:
But obviously it is the statement that is being made, that is as important as the effect of the sanctions. And I think the fact that the countries who have imposed these sanctions are countries who have historical relationships with the state of Israel, does demonstrate the level of concern that we have about what is occurring.
Israeli national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir (centre) greets supporters in Jerusalem on 26 May 2025. Photograph: Amir Levy/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 17.52 EDT
Wong says it is important to ‘stand together’ with joint sanctions
Penny Wong said Australian joined four other nations to send a “very clear message” that the bloc strongly opposes Israel’s settlement actions in the West Bank. She told RN Breakfast:
It is important together to send a very clear message that these activities and the impingement on the rights and human rights of Palestinians in the West Bank are not acceptable.
Wong said the sanctions targeted Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich because Australia believes the pair are the “most extreme proponents of what we regard as an unlawful and violent settlement enterprise”.
Teargas and smoke are pictured through a window during a large-scale Israeli military raid in the old town of Nablus city in the occupied West Bank on 10 June 2025. Photograph: John Wessels/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 17.51 EDT
Natasha May
NSW commits $23m to reduce overdue surgeries
In response to those NSW health figures earlier, the Minns government has committed $23m to reduce overdue surgeries as part of the 2025-26 budget.
The health minister, Ryan Park, blamed the Liberal governments that ruled before Labor took power in 2023 for presiding over a record 17,000 overdue surgeries.
The minister said the quarterly data showed overdue surgeries increased by 1,745 patients to 8,587, in the past quarter – down from around 14,000 in March 2023 when the state government established the surgical care governance taskforce, but an increase from around 2,000 in mid-2024.
The NSW health minister said the quarterly data showed overdue surgeries increased by 1,745 patients to 8,587, in the past quarter. Photograph: Thirasak Phuchom/Alamy
Park’s statement pointed to challenges that have contributed to the recent increase, including Tropical Cyclone Alfred disrupting services in northern NSW and the mid-north coast, and workforce availability challenges that continue in some parts of the state.
Park said:
From day one, tackling overdue surgeries has been our priority. We made significant progress in reducing the overdue surgeries that we inherited, down from 14,000. But we know there’s always more that we can do to improve the accessibility of planned surgeries.
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Updated at 17.44 EDT
Wong says Australia remains concerned about ‘unlawful and violent settlement’ in West Bank
Penny Wong spoke to the morning shows just now, saying Australia remains concerned about Israel’s actions in the West Bank and that the sanctions were linked to an “unlawful and violent settlement enterprise”. She said:
We are concerned alongside the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and others about the unlawful and violent settlement enterprise in the West Bank. That is not consistent with two states. We believe, like the international community and our partners, that two states is the best chance for peace in the Middle East and peace and security for Israelis.
Penny Wong said Australia believes ‘we can only see peace in the Middle East when we deal with two states’. Photograph: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images
Wong also told Seven’s Sunrise the government remained concerned the Netanyahu government was undermining the prospects of a two-state solution.
Ultimately we, along with those other countries and the broader international community, believe we can only see peace in the Middle East when we deal with two states and when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.
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Updated at 17.28 EDT
Natasha May
100,678 patients on elective surgery wait list in NSW
The elective surgery waiting list in New South Wales public hospitals is nearing the pandemic record high, new data shows.
The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has today released its latest Healthcare Quarterly report for the period of January to March 2025.
It shows despite the 52,973 elective surgeries representing a rise of 3.6% compared with the same quarter in 2024, the increase in the percentage on the waiting list was even higher.
The 100,678 patients on the elective surgery waiting list was up 7.3% (an additional 6,881 patients) and just short of the record peak during the early years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the BHI said.
Of those patients on the list waiting for surgery at the end of March, 8,587 had waited longer than clinically recommended – a 151.3% increase (an additional 5,170 patients) from the same time a year earlier.
The data was more positive for emergency departments which have seen a decrease in semi-urgent and non-urgent presentations over the past year.
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Updated at 17.35 EDT
Nick Visser here to take over for Martin Farrer. Let’s get on with the news.
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Sanctions against Israeli ministers made under autonomous sanctions regulations on human rights
The sanctions against the Israeli ministers have been made under the autonomous sanctions regulations on human rights introduced in 2011.
A statement on the Dfat website last night said Penny Wong had imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on the Israeli ministers because of serious violations or serious abuses of human rights.
The regulations state that sanctions can be imposed if the foreign minister “is satisfied” that the person has engaged in, has been responsible for or has been complicit in a serious violation or serious abuse of a person’s right to life; or right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or right not to be held in slavery or servitude or right not to be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
The minister can prevent a person from travelling to, entering or remaining in Australia if they satisfy those criteria.
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Updated at 17.11 EDT
Five countries issue joint statement on sanctions for Israeli ministers
Josh Butler
The news about the sanctions against the Israeli ministers broke in reports after 11pm Australian time and was confirmed at midnight by a joint statement by the five countries.
The joint statement, issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that “settler violence is incited by extremist rhetoric” against the Palestinian community and “fundamentally rejects the two-state solution”. It said Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have incited “extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights” and these actions were “not acceptable”.
However, it goes on to note the ministers’ “unwavering support for Israel’s security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas”.
This is the full statement:
Today, the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom have announced sanctions and other measures targeting Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Settler violence is incited by extremist rhetoric which calls for Palestinians to be driven from their homes, encourages violence and human rights abuses and fundamentally rejects the two-state solution. Settler violence has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole communities.
We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution which is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. These actions are not acceptable. We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity. This is why we have taken this action now – to hold those responsible to account. The Israeli Government must uphold its obligations under international law and we call on it to take meaningful action to end extremist, violent and expansionist rhetoric.
The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel’s security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas. Today’s measures are targeted towards individuals who in our view undermine Israel’s own security and its standing in the world. We continue to want a strong friendship with the people of Israel based on our shared ties, values and commitment to their security and future.
Today’s measures focus on the West Bank, but of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid. There must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. We will continue to work with the Israeli Government and a range of partners. We will strive to ensure an immediate ceasefire, the release now of the remaining hostages and for the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid including food. We want to see a reconstructed Gaza no longer run by Hamas and a political pathway to a two-state solution.
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Updated at 16.39 EDT
Australia sanctions two Israeli ministers
Josh Butler
Australia has joined the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli government ministers, over what foreign affairs minister Penny Wong described as “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”.
In an unexpected move, news of which broke overnight Australian time, the Albanese government joined several allies in levelling targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Magnitsky-style sanctions come over concerns from the five governments about serious human rights violations and abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The two ministers were sanctioned in relation to a range of public comments and actions, including marching through Jerusalem’s Muslim Quarter with a group that chanted “death to Arabs” and “may your village burn”.
Ben-Gvir last month said Israel would “occupy the entire territory of the Gaza Strip” and encourage migration of Gazans elsewhere, while Smotrich in February said: “‘With God’s help we will work to permanently bury the dangerous idea of a Palestinian State.”
The sanctions make it an offence to make assets available to a sanctioned person, require the freezing of any assets in Australia, and prevent them from entering Australia.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Photograph: Amir Cohen/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.10 EDT
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer bringing you the best of the overnight stories before Nick Visser takes control.
Australia has joined the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli government ministers, over what foreign affairs minister Penny Wong described as “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”. Wong is expected to tour the radio and TV studios this morning to explain the surprise move which was announced overnight in a joint statement with the other nations.
The ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, is expected to unveil his first tranche of changes at the public broadcaster on Wednesday morning, including a new round of redundancies and the axing of Q+A after 18 years. We will have more details and reaction.
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Updated at 17.08 EDT
