Australians overwhelmingly (82%) think that Israel’s deliberate blocking of aid into Gaza cannot be justified, according to fresh polling figures, with more than two in three Australians also believing the Australian Government should do more to ensure civilians have access to food, water, and medicine. 

The polling figures follow an 11-week near-total aid blockade, which saw the re-emergence of the threat of famine and crisis levels of hunger among more than two million Palestinians remaining in Gaza. 

The YouGov polling was commissioned by Caritas Australia, Oxfam Australia, ActionAid Australia, Plan International Australia, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, and ChildFund Australia. All these aid organisations have been speaking out about the deprivation of aid to Palestinians in Gaza, and the record-breaking killing of aid workers, since late 2023.  

The polling found that: 

• 82% of Australian voters feel that the prevention of food, medicine and water reaching civilians in Gaza is unjustified.  

• 67% believe that the Australian Government should do more to support civilians being able to access food, water, and medicine in Gaza 

The group of aid organisations welcomed Foreign Minister Penny Wong joining 22 other foreign ministers urging the Israeli Government to “allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity”. 

However, they urged the Australian Government to continue to do more to support civilians being able to access food, water, and medicine in Gaza, in line with the expectations of most Australians. 

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) prohibits the use of starvation as a method of warfare. As the occupying power in Gaza, Israel is bound by IHL to provide for the needs and protection of the population of Gaza. In 2018, the UN Security Council resolution 2417 unanimously condemned the use of starvation against civilians as a method of warfare and declared any denial of humanitarian access a violation of international law. 

Caritas Australia CEO Kirsten Sayers said, “The situation in Gaza has presented Australians with a stark reminder of why International Humanitarian Law exists. Failing to uphold these laws strikes at the heart of human dignity, with the vulnerable – children, women, the sick and the elderly – bearing the brunt, and paying with their lives. What is taking place in Gaza is an extreme level of suffering that simply cannot be accepted.” 

The group of aid organisations are calling on the Australian Government to: 

• Continue to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire; 

• Join the United Kingdom, Canada, and France in strengthening their position against Israel's military operations and denial of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, and be clear that Australia will take concrete action should Israel not cease its offensive and lift restrictions on the principled delivery of aid; 

• Use Australia’s voice to publicly denounce breaches of international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and continue to call for international law to be upheld. 

Polling figures are from YouGov. Total sample size was 1,501 Australian voters. This survey was conducted online between 16th of May and the 21st of May 2025. 

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