Sydney: Australia's ruling Labor Party lawmaker and former Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic has criticized his government's stance on Israel's aid blockade in Gaza, saying Canberra should have joined three Western countries in warning Tel Aviv to allow humanitarian assistance.

According to Anadolu Agency, Husic expressed his views in a piece he contributed to the Saturday print edition of the Guardian. He stated, "Right now, Australia can and should be doing more: for starters, we should be calling in the Israeli ambassador to Australia to express the unequivocal demand we share with other nations that the Israeli government must provide for the immediate freer, rapid flow of humanitarian aid, not the 'basic' level currently permitted to trickle in."

Husic pointed out that Australia did not participate in the joint statement issued by the UK, Canada, and France. These nations had issued a stern warning to Israel, demanding that military operations in Gaza cease immediately and that humanitarian aid restrictions be lifted, or they would face "further concrete actions."

He further remarked, "It is a further sign that many of our good friends in the international community remain aghast at the treatment of innocent civilians in Gaza. It was an important stand by them. Australia could have proudly joined them. We didn't."

Husic served as the minister for industry and science between 2022 and 2025 and holds the distinction of being the first Muslim to be elected to federal parliament as well as to become a minister.

The criticism comes in the context of the Israeli army's ongoing offensive against Gaza, which has continued since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of more than 53,900 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has persisted with its military actions.

In addition, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.