Everyone knows the Australian government cannot end the war alone, but we do have an important role to play as a middle power, and it must be more than just words

Much has been made this week over Anthony Albanese’s strongest comments yet criticising the Netanyahu government’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza. While welcome, his rhetoric calling this an “outrage”, “unacceptable” and “untenable” feels inadequate in the face of what looks like a genocide unfolding in full view of the world.

These words have not been matched with any new “concrete action” of the kind being called for by what feels like just about everyone, and foreshadowed by three of Australia’s closest allies, the UK, France and Canada. The prime minister hasn’t been able to offer a satisfactory explanation as to why Australia wasn’t a signatory to this stronger statement of intent, choosing to move away from the mantle of middle power leader we’ve worn so proudly in times past.

This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.