We stand with the brave journalists of Palestine and the occupied territories, we stand with press freedom and we stand against the war crimes of Israel. The Australian government must call for an immediate permanent ceasefire, for the unconditional release of all hostages and political prisoners, and for an urgent end to the siege and invasion of Gaza. Please, call for a permanent ceasefire.
Senator WATERS (Queensland—Leader of the Australian Greens in the Senate) (16:44): I rise to support this urgency motion:
Given the end of the truce in Gaza and the intensification of the state of Israel’s bombing in Southern Gaza, the Australian Government must call for an immediate permanent ceasefire to end the humanitarian catastrophe occurring in Gaza, for the unconditional release of all hostages and political prisoners and for an urgent end to the siege and invasion of Gaza.
Over the past eight weeks the realities of this humanitarian catastrophe have been brought to us by journalists and filmmakers on the ground, persevering through communications blackouts, relentless air strikes and deep personal loss to document the devastation, usually via social media platforms. Seven hundred civilians in Gaza have been killed just since the brief humanitarian pause collapsed over the weekend. With this horrific onslaught continuing, those same journalists are now posting messages of resignation to the reality of the danger all Palestinians in Gaza are facing and the selective ignorance of the world to their plight.
Bisan Owda, a young Palestinian filmmaker who has started each day by telling the world, ‘This is Bisan. I’m still alive,’ posted yesterday:
I no longer have any hope of survival like I had at the beginning … and I am certain that I will die in the next few weeks or maybe days.
A Message to friends: Thank you and the supporters around the world. You have been compassionate and very strong. We ask you not to lose hope, even if the world seems completely unfair and your efforts have not yet resulted in a ceasefire.
Hamza Wael, a press photographer in Gaza, posted:
58 days of documenting and publishing everything that happens … and no one moved. Do you need another 58 days to confirm?
Just a few days before she was able to leave Gaza, Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad posted:
I used to always wear my press vest and helmet … but lately I stopped wearing them. I don’t feel safe, but especially when wearing the press vest and helmet.
Journalist Motaz Azaiza says:
The stage of risking everything to bring you the news has ended. The stage of trying to survive has begun. Our situation is more dire than you can imagine.
Some 15½ thousand people, including 61 journalists, have lost their lives in this conflict so far. The Committee to Protect Journalists also reports multiple assaults, threats, attempts at censorship and killings of family members. These are the colleagues of people in our press gallery who’ve lost their lives trying to tell the truth about the atrocities that have been committed.
We stand with the brave journalists of Palestine and the occupied territories, we stand with press freedom and we stand against the war crimes of Israel. The Australian government must call for an immediate permanent ceasefire, for the unconditional release of all hostages and political prisoners, and for an urgent end to the siege and invasion of Gaza. Please, call for a permanent ceasefire.