Political debate in Australia has sharpened as the Greens repeated their call for a “complete, two-way arms freeze on Israel”, arguing that Australia should stop buying weapons and weapons parts linked to Israeli defence manufacturing and conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
The comments were reported in the context of growing alarm over the conflict in the Middle East and its wider economic consequences. The head of the International Monetary Fund warned that the Iran war will permanently scar the global economy, even if a durable peace deal can eventually be reached.
According to the IMF chief, the outlook for growth is already being revised downward. In remarks quoted in the live coverage, the warning was blunt: even the most hopeful scenario now involves a downgrade, and there would be no simple return to the previous economic position.
The Greens said previous statements by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, including expressions of concern and grave concern, had not changed the situation. The party argued that Australia should go further by cancelling more than a billion dollars in Israeli arms contracts. It said such a move would respond to what it described as the moral reality of Israel’s military actions and would also place direct material pressure on Israel to pull back from what it called a disastrous, illegal and immoral war in Lebanon.
In the live post, the Greens also said Australia should not be buying weapons that have been tested by Israeli defence manufacturers in conflicts such as Gaza and Lebanon, and should not be contributing any weapons parts. They said a freeze would make clear to Israel that there would be a direct cost.
The debate is unfolding as the federal government faces broader pressure on a range of foreign policy and domestic issues. The live coverage is part of continuing reporting on Australia news, including reactions to international conflict, fuel prices, and political developments.
Separately, the live updates noted that Queensland MP Jimmy Sullivan has been found dead. Further details were not included in the source excerpt.
The reporting also comes against the backdrop of warnings about the wider global effects of the Iran war. The IMF’s assessment suggests that even if hostilities ease and a peace process emerges, the economic shock will not quickly disappear. That concern adds another layer to the already fraught political discussion in Australia over its ties to Israel, its arms policy, and the consequences of the conflict for regional stability.
In the source coverage, the Greens’ position was framed as both a moral and practical demand: a refusal to continue any trade in military goods with Israel, and a bid to create enough economic pressure to influence the course of the war. The party’s renewed intervention shows that the issue remains a flashpoint in domestic politics as global tensions continue to affect markets, diplomacy and public debate.
The live blog continued to track reactions and developments as they emerged, with the Middle East conflict, economic fallout and Australian political responses all remaining central to the day’s news agenda.
