Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and Friends of the Earth
Monday, 1 January 2024 - 9:00am to Tuesday, 31 December 2024 - 5:00pm Across the countryACT, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, lutruwita (Tasmania) and Victoria
The news coming from Gaza grows more horrifying by the day. Thousands of innocent men, women and children have been killed. Neighbourhoods have been flattened by bombings. The health care system has been bombed into collapse. Hospitals are overflowing with people with appalling injuries, and exhausted medical staff are operating without electricity, fuel for their generators and the most basic of medical supplies. There is no safe place in Gaza and no one has been allowed to leave. On 1 November around 300 foreign nationals were allowed to leave and around 80 severely injured Palestinians were allowed to be transferred to Egypt.
We’re seeing increasing reports of Israeli war crimes and violations of international humanitarian laws. Human Rights Watch has confirmed that banned white phosphorus has been used on people in Gaza and Lebanon. The UN Humanitarian Relief Chief said Israel’s order for one million people to evacuate northern Gaza in just 24 hours “defied the rules of war and basic humanity.” Statements by UN bodies, including the Secretary General, have been unequivocal – Israel’s targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure is in clear violation of international law. The complete cutting off of Gaza is collective punishment and a war crime.
The Australian Government must clearly condemn these gross violations of international law. The killing of innocent Gazans is not “Israeli self-defense.” It is an attack on a population that is held captive in what has been described as an open-air prison, that has come to resemble - to use the words of the UN - “a living hell.”
The attacks must stop. The siege must be lifted. The violence that has plagued the people of Gaza and Palestine for the past 75 years must cease. All efforts internationally must address the underlying causes of these atrocities and urgently end Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism. Peace and freedom must reign for Palestine..
Almost the entire 2.3 million person population of Gaza has been displaced, and pushed into a sliver of land that itself offers no safety or shelter from Israeli violence. As the World Health Organisation chief said in late November, nowhere and no-one is safe in Gaza.
And yet, UN Security Council ceasefire resolutions continue to be vetoed by the US, giving impunity to Israel to continue its collective punishment and killing of Palestinians. It is clear that the international community, including Australia, must now use its influence to see the US support an immediate ceasefire for Gaza.
Please take action to increase the pressure condemning Israel’s attacks on the people of Gaza, and calling for an immediate ceasefire and the lifting of the siege of Gaza to protect the most basic of human rights – the right to live. We can’t be complicit in Israel’s genocide of the people of Gaza.
How to Take Action
Millions of people around the world are taking part in rallies in support of Palestine.
Many Palestinian and Jewish groups across the country are holding rallies, sit-ins. fundraisers and vigils. Check out the APAN events page to see what's happening near you, attend the weekly rallies calling for a cease fire and email to your MP asking for a ceasefire. Follow Palestinian journalists, medics and others on social media. Ask for more information on who to follow from your local group.
The weekly rally in Naarm / Melbourne takes place 12pm every Sunday at the State Library.
Also see the Friends of the Earth Palestine events page for a huge list of regular and one off events, training and groups you can join in.