The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has submitted a vital set of recommendations to the Senate’s inquiry into Australia’s sanctions regime, driven by Australia’s refusal to robustly apply sanctions on Israel for its ongoing genocide in Gaza and illegal occupation and apartheid in the West Bank.
Despite extensive international condemnation and recent rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Australia’s response to Israel’s international law violations has been insufficient and inconsistent compared to its response to other international conflicts, and to the actions of Australia’s allies.
Key recommendations of APAN’s submission include broadening the scope of sanctions to cover violations of self-determination, and the crimes of genocide and apartheid, and implementing a trigger mechanism to respond to ICJ decisions.
The submission also advocates for the immediate imposition of targeted economic and military sanctions on Israeli government officials, military leaders, and entities involved in violating Palestinian human rights.
Furthermore, the submission emphasises the need for a transparent, consistent sanctions framework independent of political considerations, and improved engagement with civil society to ensure public input influences policy decisions.
By aligning its actions with international standards and its allies’ measures, Australia can reaffirm its commitment to human rights and justice.
APAN urges the Australian Government to take decisive action in line with these recommendations to meet its legal obligations to act to prevent Israel’s genocide in Gaza, to help put an end to the rogue state’s occupation and apartheid the West Bank, and to take a leadership role in global justice efforts.
Read APAN’s submission here.
Quotes attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
For months, the Australian Government has maintained a dangerously opaque approach to its sanctions policy, disregarding overwhelming evidence of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and civil society calls for decisive action to put an end to this rogue state’s egregious violations of international law.
Australia’s unwillingness to impose sanctions on Israel – even as it sanctions Russia, Myanmar and Iran – reeks of double standards, undermines its commitment to human rights and perpetuates a culture of impunity for Israel’s grave violations.
We demand a transparent, consistent policy that applies equally to all states, including Israel, ensuring that Israeli officials, military officers, security personnel, individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses in Palestine are held accountable.
Australia must balance its foreign policy by aligning with middle powers that are taking bold, decisive action against Israel, while steadfastly maintaining an uncompromisingly independent position that prioritises human rights and justice.