On May 5, the Israeli Parliament approved plans to annex and occupy Gaza. These plans have been discussed for months. This is a blatant mission to ethnically cleanse Gaza, advancing Israel’s colonial intentions to take over the territory and rid it of Palestinians.
For the past 19-months Israel has acted with extraordinary brutality, carrying out daily massacres, and ensuring the total decimation of infrastructure, healthcare and anything that might sustain Palestinian life. On Tuesday, one Israeli government minister vowed that ‘Gaza will be entirely destroyed.’ This follows more than two months of blockade of medical, fuel and food supplies to Gaza.
Israel’s infanticide and targeting of women and children is so severe that infants are now being born with debilitating disabilities and conditions, including, most recently, an infant born without a brain. This is due to unfathomable distress and lack of basic medical care, food and supplements.
The deliberate blocking of aid and food, which Israel admits is a tactic to pressure Hamas, is leading to starvation in Gaza, with shocking malnutrition among children in particular. ‘We are starving the children of Gaza’, said the World Health Organization Executive Director this week. ‘We are complicit.’
The re-elected Albanese government must immediately sanction Israel and comply with our obligations under the Genocide Convention and international law. This includes cutting all economic, military and diplomatic ties with Israel.
We don’t have to be a ‘major player’ to show our commitment to the basic humanity of Palestinians and be part of the global movement to pressure Israel to comply with its obligations under international law.
Max Kaiser, Executive Officer of the Jewish Council, said:
‘The election defeat of Peter Dutton and the Liberal Party makes it clear that unconditional support for Israel’s flouting of international law is not a vote-winner. Swings to Greens and independents in seats such as Wills and Blaxland demonstrate that the Australian public is outraged by the atrocities in Gaza.
‘The Jewish Council of Australia is a movement of over 1,000 Jews nationwide. We’re ramping up pressure on Albanese to act—and working side by side with our Palestinian allies to demand that our government pressure Israel to stop killing Palestinians. We are a bold and growing Jewish movement that won’t stay silent in the face of genocide. This government will hear us—and we won’t let them look away.’
For further comment from Dr Max Kaiser, please email jewishcouncil@jewishcouncil.com.au or SMS 0493 970 412