Shortly after Hamas brutally murdered over a thousand Israelis – and took others hostage – Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, tweeted: “Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities & civilians. We call for these attacks to stop & recognise Israel’s right to defend itself. Australia urges the exercise of restraint & protection of civilian lives.”

Immediately, a storm of criticism met Wong. How dare she call for Israel to show restraint in the face of such horrific violence? Wong was clearly sufficiently concerned about this that, when asked, she seemed determined to make clear those words had not been directed at Israel specifically. Had she said “Israel should exercise restraint”? No, Wong said, her tweet had called “for restraint and the protection of civilian lives. And I think that’s an unremarkable point, frankly.”

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, on Saturday, July 26.Credit: AP

Within a month, as the extent of Israel’s attacks became clearer, Wong had become comfortable explicitly saying to Israel that it should exercise restraint, pointing to the 3500 children killed that month.

You can understand, in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ violence, the strong reaction to Wong’s words, the frustration some might have felt at the idea of being told Israel should restrain itself after such an atrocity. I heard that frustration expressed at the time. The emotion behind it was not cynical but deeply felt.

Such criticisms were taken up publicly, including by the Coalition. By this time, though, knowing........

© The Age