Tony Burke says people have right to grieve Gaza deaths and backs flying Palestinian flag in Australia

Senior Labor minister and western Sydney MP supports Penny Wong's call for humanitarian pause' and notes Israeli minister's use of term human animals'

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Albanese government minister Tony Burke has backed a Sydney council's decision to raise the Palestinian flag until a ceasefire is declared in the Israel-Gaza conflict, saying people had a right to grieve what they saw happening to Palestinians.

Burke, one of the most senior members of the Labor government, represents one of the biggest Muslim communities in Australia. In an interview with ABC radio RN Breakfast, Burke said the council was truly representing grief in that community".