Usman Khawaja urges Anthony Albanese to show courage and sanction Israel over Gaza crisis

Cricket great Usman Khawaja has urged the prime minister to act with courage and sanction Israel.

Mr Khawaja spoke with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Parliament House about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and gambling reform.

Although their meeting was initially cancelled due to scheduling conflicts, they found a new time on Thursday, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Prior to the face-to-face, the Australian batsman revealed he had voted for Labor at the May federal election and had faith in Mr Albanese.

“I actually have a lot of love and a lot of respect for the prime minister .... at times he’s 100 per cent shown courage,” Mr Khawaja told reporters in Canberra.

“It takes a little bit more courage to go for the next step and have sanctions, and I genuinely believe Prime Minister Albanese is the man to have the courage and do that.

“He’s shown that he’s got, (for lack of) better words, the cojones to go out there and do it.”

Although the federal government has introduced broad sanctions on countries like Russia and Myanmar, it is yet to do so for Israel.

Dr Chalmers, who joined the discussions between Mr Khawaja and the prime minister, said they had a great deal of respect for the cricketer.

“He’s a leader of real substance,” he told reporters.

“So I take his contribution very seriously.”

Standing alongside independents, outspoken Labor MP Ed Husic and human rights activists, the sportsman laid bare the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has officially declared widespread famine in area.

More than 470,000 people now face catastrophic levels of food insecurity as Israel continues throttling aid into the territory.

More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the latest conflict, including more than 18,000 children, according to local health authorities.

“It’s been 22 months of absolute horror in Gaza,” Médecins Sans Frontières humanitarian affairs lead Arunn Jegan told reporters.

“Food and medicine sit at Gaza’s borders blocked by Israel and when Palestinians try to reach what little is allowed through, they are killed.

“This is a genocide, this is not just a crime against Palestinians, this is a crime against humanity.”

In direct contradiction to this and reports from more than 100 humanitarian groups, Israel has denied starvation in Gaza and allegations of genocide.

A genocide case against Israel has been brought to the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his alleged responsibility for war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began after the designated terror group Hamas killed 1200 Israelis and took about 250 more hostage on October 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court has also issued an arrest warrant for former Hamas commander Mohammad Deif over alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, though he was assassinated by an Israeli air strike in 2024.

As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, Australia has issued stronger condemnations of Israel and announced its intention to recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Mr Khawaja praised that move but urged the PM to go further.

“The prime minister has an opportunity right now to cement his legacy, to say ‘I fight for the people, I’m fighting for humanity’,” he said.

During Australia’s Test series in December 2023, the International Cricket Council barred the opener from wearing boots sporting the words “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” and using a bat with an image of a dove.