Sanctions on Israel
Why sanctions are a necessary response to Israel’s genocide
As Israel continues to commit grave human-rights violations, the world must respond with sanctions. The Jewish Council of Australia supports country-level sanctions, arms embargoes, and accountability measures to help end Israel’s genocide and occupation and advance Palestinian liberation.
Scroll down to see some recent articles, posts and media releases that cover sanctions on Israel.
Petition: say no to Herzog visiting Australia
NOTE: This petition is now closed, to keep up to date with future petitions, sign up to our newsletter. Prime Minister Albanese will be rolling out the red carpet for a visit from Israeli President Isaac Herzog next week to “provide support for Jewish Australians”. As Jewish Australians, it is important for us to send a…
Diaspora Jewish Leaders Urge Action Against Israel as it Orders Strikes on Gaza and Advances West Bank Annexation
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…
Recognition of Palestine not enough, Sanctions Must Follow to Stop Genocide
Media Release For immediate release: 22 September 2025 Recognition of Palestine not enough, Sanctions Must Follow to Stop Genocide SYDNEY – The Jewish Council of Australia affirms the Palestinian people’s fundamental right to self-determination—a right that has been systematically denied by the Israeli state. Australia’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine is a response…
Jewish Council launches ad campaign Demanding Government Sanction Israel for Genocide, Condemns Australian Complicity
September 18 2025 The Jewish Council of Australia has today launched a national campaign with adverts in the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun featuring the faces of hundreds of Australian Jews, calling on the Australian government to take drastic action to halt Israel’s genocidal war on the Palestinian people. As part of this campaign, the…
Petition: Sanction Israel for Genocide in Gaza
To: The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong. We, the undersigned, call on the Australian Government to take immediate and decisive action in response to Israel’s genocidal war on the Palestinian people in Gaza and its deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war. The world’s…
Join our campaign and write to your MP demanding urgent action on Gaza famine and destruction
Dear friends, Many thanks to the hundreds of you who joined the campaign against Israel’s starvation of Gaza, and sent us photos of yourselves holding signs. We have shared your powerful images on social media and sent them to politicians. Will you now take the next step with us, and write to your MP demanding urgent government…
Re-elected Albanese government must condemn Israel’s brutality and cut ties
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…
The Jewish Council joins six other Jewish organisations in calling for sanctions against the State of Israel
[Image credit] The Jewish Council of Australia has issued a joint statement with six other groups, opposing Israel’s decision to resume the horrific bombardment of Gaza and calling on the Australian government to impose sanctions on the state of Israel. In a sign of growing community support, the statement was signed by seven Australian Jewish groups: On…
ICC arrest warrants demonstrate urgent need for Australia to cut ties and sanction Israel
[Image credit] The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes relating to the Gaza war. In light of these developments, and the worsening conditions imposed on Palestinians in Gaza, and the West Bank, the Jewish Council…
Sarah Schwartz featured in campaign to sanction Israel, as covered by Women’s Agenda
Sarah Schwartz is one of several figures featured in this campaign to sanction Israel, featured in the Women’s Agenda, alongside others such as Antoinette Lattouff, Dr Preeya Alexander, Lewis Garnham and Jayson Gillham. Click here to read the article.
North Gaza siege demonstrates urgent need to cut ties and sanction Israel
[Image credit] The Jewish Council of Australia renews our calls for the Albanese Government to use all possible pressure to stop Israel committing the crime of genocide. Yesterday, an Israeli strike targeting Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Hospital in central Gaza burned alive at least four Palestinians and injured dozens, many of them wounded patients. The UN World…
Jewish Council says Australia must combine support for UK arms controls with action
[Image credit] The Jewish Council of Australia welcomes Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s support for the decision by the United Kingdom to suspend 30 arms export licenses to Israel. We also welcome the Foreign Minister’s statement that Australia is working with allies to place pressure on Israel to stop its human rights abuses. In order for…
