The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) commends the Australian government’s vote in favour of two important UN General Assembly resolutions aimed at bringing an end to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in its mission to provide critical humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
With 158 votes in favour, the UN General Assembly has passed a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The General Assembly also passed a second resolution with 159 votes in favour, calling for Israel to respect UNRWA’s mandate and to allow the agency’s operations to continue without obstruction. This resolution is particularly significant as Israel’s new law, set to take effect in January, would ban UNRWA’s operations in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory.
These resolutions reflect the strong global consensus on the urgent need to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and uphold the rights of Palestinians.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
“The overwhelming global consensus reflected in these resolutions underscores the undeniable truth: Israel must stop its genocide in Gaza right now.
“Australia’s vote today is a crucial step in standing up against the systemic oppression and brutal violence that Israel continues to inflict on the Palestinian people.
“While UN resolutions are an important step, they are not enough on their own. The urgency of this situation demands concrete action – Australia must end its support for Israel’s genocidal regime, impose sanctions and a two-way arms embargo, and suspend its trade and military ties.”