Canberra: Pro-Palestine sloganeering and calls for sanctions on Israel welcomed newly-elected Australian lawmakers as the parliament convened for the first time since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was re-elected in May. Governor-General Sam Mostyn delivered an opening address to a joint session of the 48th parliament.

According to Anadolu Agency, Mostyn's address coincided with a demonstration by pro-Palestine protesters, many of whom were detained before being removed from the parliament house. SBS News reported that Senator Mehreen Faruqi raised a banner with the words 'sanction Israel' and asked Prime Minister Albanese, 'Prime minister, Gaza is starving, will you sanction Israel?'

Australia was among 26 nations that issued a joint statement on Monday, calling for an immediate end to Israeli attacks in Gaza and condemning the blocking of humanitarian aid to Palestinians. People also gathered outside the parliament, urging the Albanese government to impose sanctions on Israel.

More than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed, and 142,511 others injured, in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, according to the enclave's Health Ministry. The relentless bombing and blockade have devastated the enclave, leading to deaths from starvation.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants 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 actions in the enclave.