Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 

Canberra, May 26 (RHC)-- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told reporters in Canberra that Israel’s blockade on Gaza is “completely unacceptable.”  “People are starving, and the idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage,” he said. “That is my clear position.  It’s one I’ve indicated clearly and directly to the Israeli government,” the prime minister said, noting that he spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Rome last week.

“We find Israel’s excuses and explanations completely untenable and without credibility,” Albanese added.

The Australian leader, however, pushed back at questions over why his country did not join the UK, France and Canada in calling for more “concrete actions” against Israel, saying that the statement was by members of the G7, which Canberra is not part of.

His remarks come after a former minister in the Albanese government, Ed Husic, penned an article in The Guardian criticising Australia for not taking a firmer stand over the weekend.

[ SOURCE: AL JAZEERA and NEWS AGENCIES ]