The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) condemns in the strongest possible terms Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the Australian government’s shameful complicity in Israel’s crimes.
In the past 24 hours, Israel bombed Al-Aqsa and Nasser hospitals. Again. Harrowing footage from the bombings shows Palestinian journalists being burned alive after Israeli forces bombed their media tent at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.
In Deir al-Balah, Palestinian journalists have described it as the “most hellish night yet” – nonstop bombardment by Israeli tanks, fighter jets with F-16 missiles and Apache helicopters, bodies torn apart, a sky lit with fire.
Eighteen months of global silence and inaction, including by the Australian government, has offered Israel the impunity to terrorise and brutalise Palestinians without any fear of consequence.
It is bombing hospitals. It is deliberately starving Palestinians by blocking all food, water and aid, including polio vaccinations. It has lied, again, this time about its execution and crude mass burial of 15 Palestinian first responders, including Palestinian Red Crescent Society medics and a UN worker.
Australia’s response has been to call for an investigation, and for “all parties to abide by international law.” We know what that means: Israel will continue its horrifying, 18-month long genocidal project in Gaza, while the Australian government pats itself on the back.
The heads of UN agencies OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP and WHO are begging the world to act “firmly, urgently and decisively” to end Israel’s genocide and ensure it upholds international law.
Australia is not exempt from international law. It has obligations of its own that it has been shirking for 18 months. Nor is Australia neutral, powerless, or without influence. Indeed, Australia is playing a very real role, helping to fund and normalise the horror Israel is bringing to Gaza:
- Australia exports weapons components used in Israel’s war machine.
- Australia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Future Fund, profits from investments in weapons companies arming the Israeli military and enforcing Israeli apartheid.
- In the past 12 months, the value of Australia’s exports to Israel continued at $212 million.
- Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has not even been able to commit to arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters our country – despite international calls for his prosecution for war crimes.
This is not diplomacy. This is complicity. Australia is doing business-as-usual with war criminals and genocidaires.
The federal election is coming, and every candidate must be made to answer one simple question:
Do you support arming, trading with and offering political cover to the genocidal apartheid state of Israel, or will you heed the calls of the Palestinian people, the highest courts in the world, and the best legal brains around the globe and stand for justice, accountability and Palestinian liberation?
No more empty words. No more “deep concern.”
We demand:
- Immediate sanctions on Israel.
- An end to Australia’s two-way arms trade with Israel.
- Australian support for international legal efforts to hold Israel accountable.
- Support for domestic legal safeguards, such as the Red Lines Package of legislation, to ensure Australia does not aid or abet war crimes, illegal settlements and crimes against humanity.
This is a test of political courage and moral clarity.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
“Israel is burning Palestinian journalists alive. Bombing hospitals. Executing ambulance officers. Starving children. Beheading babies. And still, Australia sends weapons parts, trades millions in goods, and refuses to sanction a single Israeli official. That is not foreign policy – that’s blood on our hands.
“While Palestinians are being slaughtered, Australia’s leaders are too cowardly to even say the word ‘genocide.’ We are led by a government so spineless it can’t even commit to arresting Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot here, despite global calls for his prosecution.
“This government thinks it can hide behind bureaucratic language and empty statements. But those people with a conscience across this continent have been watching and waiting for this moment, this election, to put an end to Australia’s complicity.
“This federal election, we will not accept silence. Every candidate must be asked: Do you support this genocide? Or are you on the side of humanity, international law and justice for Palestine?
“There is no middle ground. If you’re not fighting to end Australia’s complicity in these crimes, you are part of the problem, and you are unelectable.
“We will make sure voters know this.”