Leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Australia (ASEAN-Australian) were reported to be struggling to find common ground on the war in Gaza, with nations split on the wording of a joint declaration.
The AFP reports that a draft joint ASEAN-Australian statement showed there was broad agreement behind a call for “an immediate and durable humanitarian ceasefire”.
“We condemn attacks against all civilians and civilian infrastructure, leading to a further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza including restricted access to food, water, and other basic needs,” the latest draft, accessed by AFP, read.
But a working draft of the joint declaration from earlier this week hinted at the deep divisions on display behind closed doors.
Singapore – which has close ties to Israel – baulked at a suggestion to condemn “the use of starvation” in the Gaza Strip, AFP reports.