Coalition backs defence export permit rules for Israel

Australia will not change its laws on the supply of weapons or ammunition to Israel if the coalition wins the next federal election, opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham says.

The Liberal senator said the coalition had "no plans" to change the rules, as it emerged during a parliamentary hearing Australia had amended or lapsed at least 16 defence-related export permits to Israel following a review.

"The structure is indeed as to how those defence export laws operate and ... that is the consistency that we would apply," Senator Birmingham told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.

Asked about potential Israeli settlements in Gaza, Senator Birmingham said Australian governments, both coalition and Labor, had "long been clear that settlement activity that is counter-productive ... should not be undertaken".

Pressed on whether the rising number of Palestinians killed in Gaza, believed to be more than 40,000, would impact the coalition's resoluteness, he said the "civilian death toll is something that pains absolutely all of us".

"But we're clear in terms of the principles we stand by and the outcomes we ultimately seek," Senator Birmingham said.

The coalition has strongly supported Israel in its response following last year's October 7 attack by Hamas militants, which killed 1200 Israelis and resulted in hundreds more being taken as hostages.

Senator Birmingham dodged a question about Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich ordering preparations for the annexation of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

He said he didn't intend to "give a running commentary on every issue that may be debated at a point in time in the Middle East".

But issues such as land would at the heart of any pathway towards peace, Senator Birmingham said.