Sunrise host Nat Barr has confronted Liberal Senator Bridget McKenzie over the plight of starving children in Gaza on Wednesday, as they discussed Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s latest remarks on the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

On Tuesday, Wong made a significant shift away from calls for Hamas to release the 50 Israeli hostages as a priority before a deal can be struck and the conflict ended, which has been her past position.

Instead, she advocated for a deal to be struck before the hostages are released. Wong said there would be “no Palestine left to recognise” should the international community wait much longer.

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Hamas took the hostages during a terror attack on October 7, 2023. Just days ago, a distressing video was released of an emaciated Israeli hostage in an underground tunnel digging his own grave.

Speaking about the change in tone from Wong, McKenzie said: “Israel did not start this war, Hamas started this war by their atrocities nearly two years ago.

“It has been clear that the pathway to peace from day one is to return the hostages to Israel, dead or alive, and for Hamas, a terrorist organisation, to lay down their weapons and surrender.”

Barr pressed: “Bridget, when you have got hundreds and hundreds of starving children where we are now, what do we do?”

McKenzie replied: “You don’t give in to terrorists. The pathway to peace is not giving in to the oppressors and giving in to the terrorists. Hamas needs to allow the aid to get where it’s needed.

“Giving in to terrorists and oppressors is not the way to end wars. I think Penny (Wong) has pulled the wrong lever on this.”

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said she agreed with Wong’s remarks.

“Firstly, I would say that we need this conflict to end. We have called for an immediate ceasefire,” Rishworth said.

“I think it’s not only Australia putting this position forward. Of course, we have got 600 former Israeli defence security personnel saying really the best way to get the hostages back is to end the conflict, so this has become very distressing across the board.

“We are seeing a huge human toll in Gaza, it really is time for this to end, for the hostages to be returned and for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, to have access to food and water.”

Barr pressed the issue of Palestinian statehood, asking if the change in tone is paving the way for Australia to recognise Palestinian statehood.

“First, I would say the Prime Minister has been really clear that to recognise a Palestinian state it is (a matter of) when, not if,” Rishworth said.

“Of course, we have been very clear that Hamas should play no role.

“But we have been clear that we do need a pathway to peace.

“Obviously, we continue to work with international partners on the way forward with that as well as taking action to get aid into Gaza.

“I think across the board Australians are pretty distressed about what is happening in Gaza at the moment and do want this conflict to end.”