Federal MP Ed Husic is calling on the government to impose targeted sanctions on Israel over its military actions in Gaza.

Speaking on ABC Radio this morning, Husic said Australia needs to move past words and take action to develop targeted sanctions against Israel’s government and its defence forces.

The representative for Chifley held the position of Industry and Science Minister during Anthony Albanese’s first term as Prime Minister and has been in government since 2010.

“We should be ready to move when others move as well, to be able to exert maximum international pressure to stop this blockade and to help people in Gaza,” he said.

Husic believes both the IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be held responsible, labelling their actions as a “breach of humanitarian law”.

Prime Minister Albanese expressed his outrage on the matter on Monday, condemning Israel’s actions, while Greens leader Larissa Waters encouraged a further response from the government.

In a tweet on May 21, Waters said there was “no reason” why the government would not be able to announce sanctions.

“Other countries have stepped up their action in this moment. We should too,” she said.

These statements come after 11 weeks of aid and medical supplies being blocked from entering the Gaza Strip. It is a move that Israel has said will encourage the release of Hamas’s remaining hostages.

Photo by Jaber Jehad Badwan found HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified