Independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has called for United Nations peacekeepers to be sent into Gaza to ensure food aid reaches starving families.
The outspoken senator, a former corporal in the Australian Defence Force, made the comments as Israel's bombardment of Gaza continues amid mounting concern over starvation and malnutrition.
In an email to her supporters, Senator Lambie said the deployment would be a "protective mission" that would "require UN authorisation".
"The 'blue helmets' — as we call them in our militaries around the world — could be sent in with the sole job of securing food aid and making sure that it is distributed to the people who need it," she said.
"Because this is a protection mission and not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement mission, the international community should have no hesitation in supporting it."
Senator Lambie said she plans to fund advertising in newspapers and online to push for the move, and asked supporters to donate to the campaign.
"Children are starving, mothers are sobbing because they can't feed their children, let alone themselves," she said.
"UN peacekeepers have a long history of assisting in humanitarian efforts, including providing security for the delivery of aid.
"If we are to ease the starvation of children in Gaza, we need blue helmets protecting those aid convoys."
Her comments come as the Labor government announced it will formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, following similar positions taken by France, the UK and Canada.
The decision was announced amid ongoing accusations of mass starvation in Gaza and the war that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week said had already claimed "far too many innocent lives".
"The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children," the Prime Minister said.
UN officials have also warned the situation is worsening. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are now at the highest levels since the conflict began.
According to UN data, 12,000 children under five were found to have acute malnutrition in July, including 2,500 with severe malnutrition — the most dangerous stage. The World Health Organisation has warned that these figures are likely an undercount.
The UN World Food Programme says one-third of Gaza's population is going for days without eating, while half a million people are on the brink of starvation.
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, however, has rejected reports of starvation.
Speaking to ABC RN last week, she said Palestinian funeral congregants were not "looking as if they're starving" and "actually look quite well".
