The Jewish Council of Australia is horrified by what we are witnessing Israel do in Rafah in the name of Jewish people. 

The Australian government should be working with other countries to put an end to Israel’s vicious and escalating assault on a trapped population. The world is watching a plausible case of genocide intensify in real time.

The situation demands more from our government than a mere reiteration of its concerns. Israel is bombing Palestinians indiscriminately in the place which they were told to evacuate to, and which they thought would be safe. 

The Jewish Council calls for an immediate ceasefire and urges the Australian government to do the same. 

Quotes from Dr Max Kaiser, historian and Executive Officer of the Jewish Council of Australia

“The world cannot stand by while Israel continues to subject Palestinians to such cruelty.” 

“Thousands of Jews - in Australia and around the world - have been calling for a ceasefire for months and saying that Israel’s actions are completely incompatible with our Jewish values. Opposing this genocide is an expression of our Jewishness and an honouring of our ancestors who were victims of unthinkable antisemitic violence.”

Quotes from Sarah Schwartz, human rights lawyer and Executive Officer of the Jewish Council of Australia

“The International Court of Justice has found a plausible case of genocide and made provisional orders, including to immediately end killing members of the Palestinian population in Gaza. As a signatory to the Genocide Convention, Australia has a duty to ensure that these provisional orders are met and that it is not complicit in genocide.” 

“I grew up hearing stories of Holocaust survivors, and hearing about how the world stood by. Australia cannot stand by as one of its allies commits atrocities.”