Penny Wong condemns Israeli minister’s comments suggesting starvation in Gaza ‘might be justified’

Australian foreign minister joins UK, Germany and France in condemning comments made by Bezalel Smotrich and repeats calls for ceasefire

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Deliberately starving civilians is a war crime, foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has said, joining international condemnation of comments made by the Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.

On Wednesday, Smotrich suggested that deliberately starving people in Gaza might be justified and moral".

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup