Peter Dutton accused of trying to gain ‘political advantage’ over Israel-Hamas war

Opposition leader says government squibbed' key United Nations vote, but trade minister says his comments are not helpful at this time'

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A senior Australian government minister has accused the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, of trying to gain political advantage" over the terrible, terrible conflict" in the Middle East.

Dutton said on Sunday that the government had squibbed" a key vote at the United Nations, after Australia abstained from casting a vote in a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza. He also said it was very significant" that the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, had failed to secure a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, since the crisis began three weeks ago.