Thursday, 16 November 2023

Middle East conflict

Sam HIBBINS (Prahran) (09:56): Quite rightly, people are passionate and have very strong views about the awful conflict in the Middle East, but in doing so we should honour the democracy that we are part of. It is not a licence to engage in violence, intimidation, hatred or bigotry, nor should it be used as cover for these acts or hateful views. There is deep concern in both Islamic and Jewish communities about their safety and about their ability to carry out their lives without fear of being subject to Islamophobia or antisemitism. Our tolerant, democratic, multicultural values must be upheld. But it is also not a time to silence legitimate, valid concerns about the war and the humanitarian disaster, particularly from those who have affected family or community. People need to be heard. Our leaders need to be clear that the Israeli government is bombing hospitals, refugee camps and civilian infrastructure and cutting off food, water, fuel and health care. Civilians and children are dying at a horrendous rate because of this. There needs to be a ceasefire. Our leaders should be calling for it. We should be calling clearly for hostages to be unconditionally returned after Hamas’s act of terror, and we need to be clear in calling for a genuine attempt at long-lasting peace, one that ends the occupation of Palestine and where all Palestinians and Israeli people can live in peace and security and their human rights are respected.