October 29, 2025
The Netanyahu government has ordered strikes on Gaza killing nine people, violating the ceasefire for the second time after less than three weeks at the same time as the Parliament votes to advance bills that would annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.
Over the course of just one week, the Israeli military has expanded assaults on Gaza, attacks in Lebanon and advanced annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank. These actions amount to deliberate violations of the ceasefire in Gaza and what the ICJ has ruled a flagrant breach of orders to permit aid into Gaza.
Amidst Israel’s continued violations of this fragile peace, a new global Jewish call for accountability is gaining momentum.
Last week, hundreds of prominent Jews and Israelis worldwide—including Avraham Burg (Israel), Naomi Klein (US), Jonathan Glazer (UK) and Sarah Schwartz of the Jewish Council of Australia —signed an open letter demanding world leaders use this moment to end impunity, apply sanctions, and address the “underlying conditions of occupation and apartheid.”
Israel’s continued violations of this fragile ceasefire and their ongoing expansion of West Bank occupation are the culmination of a decades-long, illegal project of “de facto” annexation through settlement expansion and settler violence.
These efforts are designed to “permanently bury the idea of a Palestinian state” according to Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich.
With the growing call for sanctions on Israel from Jews worldwide, it is well past time for the Albanese government to act.
The Jewish Council calls on Australia to use its influence to defend the very self-determination it has just recognised. Silence in the face of annexation and ceasefire violations is complicity.
We reiterate the calls from the global Jewish community and urge the Australian government to:
- Publicly condemn Israel’s annexation bills as a clear violation of international law and an attack on Palestinian sovereignty.
- Impose country level sanctions on Israel and Israeli ministers who are driving this annexation and the continued genocide in Gaza.
- End the two-way arms trade with Israel.
- Uphold international law by ensuring the government does all it can to prevent genocide and sanction Israel in response to its illegal attempt to block UNRWA.
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The following quotes are attributable to Sarah Schwartz, Executive Officer of the Jewish Council
“This letter shows that we are part of a rapidly growing global Jewish movement standing with Palestinians as they face genocide. Governments like Australia’s can no longer invoke the Jewish community to excuse their failure to apply human rights principles equally when it comes to Palestine.
Israel’s actions make clear its intent to extinguish Palestinian self-determination and entrench apartheid. Australia’s recognition of Palestine will remain hollow unless it is accompanied by real accountability for Israel’s continued violations. Sanctions and concrete diplomatic measures are the only credible responses.
Israel’s ceasefire breaches and escalation of violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank exposes the reality that peace will never come through words alone. Only sustained international pressure — including sanctions and an arms embargo — can end Israel’s regime of dispossession and bring genuine justice.”