Middle East conflict
Bronwyn HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (10:40): Many residents of the Thomastown electorate are extremely distressed about the war raging in Gaza and the indiscriminate killing of defenceless civilians. I have been to a number of events in the electorate to hear from Australian medical doctors returning from Gaza and families of people still in Gaza. Just a week ago a father came to me asking for assistance to get his children out of Gaza; they all had Australian visas but could not get through the border. The next day I received news that his 17-year-old son had been shot in the head, and the day after that I was told he passed away. In the words of our federal government, Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel’s denial of aid and killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food, cannot be defended or ignored. There is now an overwhelming number of countries, including Australia and most civil society, condemning these acts by the Israeli government. Many members of the Labor Party, including the Thomastown branch, led by Labor Friends of Palestine, have been campaigning in support of recognising the state of Palestine and further sanctions against members of the Israeli cabinet, illegal settlers and any military arrangements. I want to thank them for their work.
On 11 August the federal government stated that Australia will recognise the state of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. Thomastown residents have asked that I record thanks while also acknowledging this alone will not stop the killing and the stealing of land. The International Court of Justice has also made statements deliberating on whether Israel is committing genocide, but that decision is a long way away. To the people from Gaza living in the electorate of Thomastown who have relatives still living and those dead, I cannot imagine your grief, but your advocacy and strength are so powerful and we stand with you in the struggle for peace and justice.