Israeli's prime minister insists "victory" over Hamas "requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there".

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled to Rafah in the course of Israel's war against Hamas, fuelling deep concerns that any further attack on the southern Gaza city will result in even more deaths of civilians.

According to Palestinian health authorities, the death toll of the war stands at more than 33,000 people.

"I have directly put to Prime Minister Netanyahu Australia's concern about a ground invasion of Rafah," Mr Albanese said.

"The consequences that would be there for the civilian population who, of course, were told in Gaza to go south from the north to the centre, were then told to go to the centre to the south, and are now confronting a potential ground invasion there.

"We're very concerned about the humanitarian consequences, as are like-minded countries including the United States."

The last conversation between Mr Albanese and Mr Netanyahu was last week, after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a deadly air strike on an aid convoy, claiming seven lives.

Among those killed was Australian woman Zomi Frankcom, who was in one of the World Central Kitchen vehicles hit.

"There have been almost 200 aid workers who've lost their life during this conflict – no aid worker should be at risk of losing their life, when they are providing support in a humanitarian way," Mr Albanese said.

"Quite clearly in Gaza, there are dire consequences for the population there – issues of access to clean water, access to food, basic provisions, people suffering greatly.

"I note the opening up of increased access points to Gaza – the question can be asked as to why that wasn't made available beforehand.

"If those access points can be available now, why is it that more aid hasn't been gotten into those communities."

On Monday night IDF spokesperson Peter Lerner revealed that Israeli military lawyers were looking at whether a criminal investigation could be launched into the deadly air strikes. 

It followed the Australian government's decision to appoint former chief of the defence force Mark Binskin as a special advisor on Israel's response to the incident.

"We await the advice that we'll receive from special advisor Mark Binskin, but we welcome more accountability and more transparency," Mr Albanese said. 

Original Story By | Matthew Doran