The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) unequivocally supports Senator Fatima Payman’s decision to resign from the Labor Party and join the crossbench as an independent.
This move enables Senator Payman to vote in line with her conscience, principles and international law, particularly concerning Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has spurred little in the way of substantive Australian action to help bring an end to the genocide and see the rogue apartheid state of Israel held to account.
During the past two weeks, Senator Payman’s stance has garnered widespread and vocal support from community members, Labor rank and file and union supporters, and has resonated deeply with the thousands of people across this continent who have been demanding greater government action to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law.
Her public acknowledgment that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide also echo the findings of the International Court of Justice, international legal experts, genocide and Holocaust scholars, and human rights organisations.
APAN commends Senator Payman’s courage, her commitment to her constituents, and her prioritisation of principle, morality and our shared humanity.
We call on all elected representatives to plumb their consciences and similarly advocate for justice and freedom for Palestinians and for all people experiencing the violence of settler-colonialism, occupation and state-sanctioned oppression around the world.
Under the Genocide Convention, Australia is obligated to take immediate and decisive measures to prevent genocide, including imposing arms embargoes, sanctions, suspending trading relations with Israel, and supporting international legal proceedings aimed at holding Israel accountable.
Quotes attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
“Senator Payman is an exemplar of strong, resolute and principled leadership.
“Doing the right thing is sometimes hard, but it is never wrong, and we know that in this case, Senator Payman is using her platform and power as an elected representative to amplify her constituents’ demands for justice and and peace in Palestine.
“A genocide require that everyone do what they can. Indeed, the Genocide Convention obligates states such as Australia to take every possible measure to prevent and punish genocide.
“Australia hasn’t even come close to meeting these obligations, but we hope that Senator Payman’s principled stance inspires others to raise their voices for stronger government action, towards a free Palestine, from the river to the sea.”