Debris of Al-Sharouk tower after being hit by an Israeli air strike. (Photo by Nidal Alwaheidi/SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

Human rights groups and Palestinian organisations have slammed the federal government’s attempts to strengthen trade ties with Israel as deadly violence escalates in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan has expressed intent to ink a free trade agreement with Israel by July and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is conducting a feasibility study into strengthening ties between the two countries.

In a submission to DFAT’s feasibility study, coordinated by the Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ), several human rights groups attacked attempts to strengthen trade with Israel, warning that this was happening in a context where “subjugation” of the Palestinian people was becoming more entrenched.

“Australia wants to reward Israel with free trade — while Israel continues its now 14-year punitive and illegal closure on the occupied Gaza Strip, which has crippled life in Gaza,” ACIJ executive director Rawan Arraf said.

Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in the occupied Gaza Strip, backed the submission, and called for Australia to consider more restrictive, rather than freer, trade relations. “Australia must change its position, support justice and human rights, and start by implementing effective measures such as sanctions now,” he said.

But humanitarian concerns appear unlikely to shift the government’s desire to strengthen trade. Even in light of the current rocket fire, deaths and forced evictions, Australian politicians remain reluctant to publicly criticise Israel.

When asked last night if Israel were “overstepping the mark”, Prime Minister Scott Morrison stumbled, before saying the government would “monitor events very closely”. “We’re not in the habit of providing a running commentary on our friends in the Middle East,” he said

Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong said “both sides” needed to deescalate in a statement on Twitter.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi condemned the government’s silence. “The Australian Government has proved again and again that it is unwilling to oppose or be critical of Israel’s government,” she told the Senate.

“We have heard no condemnation of the government of Israel’s attacks on Sheikh Jarrah residents and the Al-Aqsa mosque. It is time to speak up.”

While Labor recently reaffirmed a commitment to recognising Palestinian statehood, the Morrison government is one of the most pro-Israel governments Australia’s ever had. It has repeatedly voted against United Nations resolutions critical of Israel, and was one of a small handful of countries to block an International Criminal Court probe into war crimes committed by the IDF and Hamas in Palestine.

Morrison gives regular speeches at pro-Israel and Zionist organisations, including two in the last few weeks. At the latest one, he spoke of the government’s commitment to avoiding UN meetings that criticised Israel. “We will not associate Australia with one-sided and contentious language that singles out Israel or an event that champions such language,” he said.