But Sen. Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the minor party Australian Greens, made a silent protest by holding up a sign in the chamber during Mostyn’s speech that said: “Gaza is starving, words won’t feed them, sanction Israel.”

Public outrage as the Palestinian death toll has climbed has been followed only slowly by official statements from governments reluctant to criticise Israel — until now.

Labor minister Tony Burke says a joint statement denouncing Israel's war in Gaza is Australia's strongest yet, but pro-Palestinian protesters say the federal government must do more to bring an end to the conflict.