By Dominic Giannini in Canberra

The top diplomats in Australia and the US have held talks about the ongoing crisis in the Middle East after the White House slapped sanctions on four Israeli settlers accused of violence in the West Bank.

Australia is being urged to follow the move, which one Middle East expert said would be in line with the government’s condemnation of settler violence and opposition to illegal Israeli settlements.

“This is a breakthrough because it’s one of the very few times the US officially recognises Israeli settler terrorism against Palestinians in the West Bank,” Australian National University lecturer Anas Iqtait told AAP.

“Should Australia follow suit? Of course, this is about 40, 50 years too late.”

Given Australia recognises the West Bank as an occupied territory and Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, sanctioning “individuals who have been committing terrorism” was appropriate, Dr Iqtait said.

This comes off the back of 2023 being the most violent year of Israeli settler violence that resulted in Palestinian property damage or injury, he said.

“The Israeli legal system persistently fails to bring people to account or to stop these phenomena,” Dr Iqtait said.

“So sanctioning … should not be a controversial issue.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a similar statement, saying Israel “must do more to stop violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold accountable those responsible for it”.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong held talks with Mr Blinken on Friday (AEDT) about their recent trips to the Middle East.

The importance of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza was emphasised during the meeting, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

“The leaders also stressed the need to protect civilian lives in Gaza and called for Hamas to immediately release all hostages,” he said.

Tens of millions of dollars of pledged aid will still make it to people in Gaza despite Australia pausing funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), Senator Wong said.

The agency is investigating claims a dozen staff were involved in Hamas’ attack against Israel.

Tel Aviv wants the organisation disbanded but the foreign minister has lauded the vital humanitarian work it conducts.

It was the only organisation that delivered substantive support and assistance into the occupied Palestinian territories, Senator Wong said.

The humanitarian situation was dire with 400,000 Gazans starving and a million more at risk of starvation, she said, pointing to UN figures.

Senator Wong has directed Australia’s humanitarian co-ordinator to work with partner nations and the agency to ensure assistance gets into Gaza while the “deeply concerning allegations” were investigated.

But Australia’s Palestinian community is calling on her to go further, including with sanctions against violent Israeli settlers and government ministers who push for Palestinian displacement.

“It’s clear words are not enough to deter Israel from continuing to expand its illegal settlements,” Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni told AAP.

“Australia must back this with decisive action including sanctions.”

Senator Wong has condemned settler violence and consistently called for Israel to follow international law.

But Israel had been ignoring concerns and warnings from Australia, Mr Mashni said.

“Australia must end the impunity Israel has enjoyed whilst flaunting international law and immediately impose a regime of sanctions to ensure Israel is held accountable,” he said.

Israel has hit back against the US sanctions, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich saying “the ‘settler violence’ campaign is an anti-Semitic lie that enemies of Israel disseminate with the goal of smearing the pioneering settlers”.

with Reuters