The foreign ministers of 11 nations, including the UK, Canada and France, strongly condemned Israel for demolishing the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in a joint statement issued on January 28.
It called on Israel "to fully abide by its obligations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law", saying current aid levels were inadequate.
Canberra was invited to join the most recent declaration, but declined the offer without an explanation, one diplomatic source told AAP.
Australia has consistently joined other like-minded nations, especially the UK, Canada and France, in issuing public rebukes to Israeli actions during its war in Gaza.
This included frequently raising concerns about blocked humanitarian aid and the killing of aid workers.
Australia has made private diplomatic representations to Israel over the demolition.
Australia's ambassador to the United Nations James Larsen also outlined objections to Israel's actions in a speech to the Security Council on the same day the joint statement was issued.
"Such actions set a dangerous precedent and undermine the multilateral system. UN facilities must be protected," he said.
Australia and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have previously defended the aid organisation, which Israel accused of spurring terror and anti-Semitism, saying it was the only mechanism available to deliver the scale of aid needed in Gaza.
Senator Wong joined statements alongside the UK, France and Canada numerous times throughout 2025, deriding expanded Israeli military operations and the blockade of humanitarian aid.
Israel has consistently called for the disbanding of UNRWA before it passed laws preventing it from operating on its territory after it accused workers of participating in the Hamas terrorist attack against it on October 7, 2023.
A subsequent investigation found nine staff "may have been involved" in the attack and they were immediately fired.
The agency agreed to reform and oversight measures to restore international funding that was paused by nations, including Australia, during the investigation.
The decision on the public statement comes against a backdrop of heightened domestic tensions in Australia following an anti-Semitic terror attack by an Islamic State-inspired father-son duo.
The gunman killed 15 innocent people at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in December.
The Albanese government's track record on tackling anti-Semitism was put under the microscope, with the Jewish community and opposition deriding the prime minister for a lack of action to curb anti-Semitism.
NSW Premier Chris Minns, as well as the federal coalition, also singled out pro-Palestine protests as a breeding ground for hate, an accusation vehemently denied by organisers who said they were demonstrating against Israel's genocide in Gaza, not Jewish people.
Subsequent hate speech laws introduced by the home affairs minister to tackle anti-Semitism then drew scorn from Muslim and Palestinian advocacy groups, which criticised the government for excluding Islamophobia from the legislation.
Tensions remain inflamed ahead of a planned visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Australia in February, with pro-Palestinian groups and the Muslim community calling for his invitation to be rescinded and Jewish groups and the opposition deriding planned protests.
Mr Albanese said people had a right to express their views but needed to "recognise the solemn nature of the engagement" as the primary reason for the visit was for the president to meet with a grieving Jewish community.
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