Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on Sept 22, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

CANBERRA — Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced that she will visit the Middle East.

In a statement released on Monday, Wong said she would visit the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Wong will then travel to Jordan before visiting the West Bank, where she will meet representatives of communities affected by violence from Israeli settlers

It will be Wong's first trip to the Middle East as the foreign minister and will make her the most senior member of the government to visit the region since the onset of the ongoing conflict on Oct 7, 2023.

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Wong said she would meet with the Israeli families of hostages and survivors of the Hamas attacks on Oct 7 as well as representatives of Palestinian communities affected by settler violence.

Australia would also use its voice to push for more humanitarian assistance, greater protection of civilians and a de-escalation of regional tensions, she added.

"Our position is that we want to see a sustainable ceasefire and that we see an international humanitarian, immediate humanitarian ceasefire as a step towards that," Wong said at a news conference ahead of her departure.

"No ceasefire can be one sided and no ceasefire can be unconditional."

Australia backed a UN resolution for a Gaza ceasefire in December in a rare split with its ally, the US.

During her first stop in Israel, Wong will meet with government officials and families of hostages and survivors of the October 7 attack, which Israel said killed more than 1,200 people.

Australia supported Israel's right to defend itself in response to "terrorism" but "the way it does so, matters," Wong said in a statement that also called for the unconditional release of all hostages.

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Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks as participants gather to listen to discussions regarding elements of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), hosted by delegations from Japan, Philippines and Australia in New York Tuesday, Sept 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

Wong will then travel to Jordan before visiting the West Bank, where she will meet representatives of communities affected by violence from Israeli settlers. Australia considers settlements illegal under international law.

"I will make clear Australia’s support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination and commitment to meeting humanitarian needs in Gaza and the West Bank," she said.

"I will also emphasise Australia’s opposition to the forcible displacement of Palestinians and our view that Gaza must no longer be used as a platform for terrorism."

With Reuters inputs