Middle East conflict
Jordan CRUGNALE (Bass) (10:51): In Parliament yesterday we held a very special peace gathering to stand in solidarity with the Victorian Palestinian community to mourn the senseless killing of thousands of innocent civilians and to acknowledge that so many more are injured and millions are internally displaced in Gaza. In Victoria our diversity is our strength. Many faiths, many cultures, many peoples – we live side by side in harmony. This we must continue to cherish, and we must be attuned to the need to also protect, value and nourish this unity with love for a shared humanity. Islamophobia and antisemitism have no place here or anywhere. I want to thank the many community members and leaders, including Mai Hamed and Suhaila Abdelqader from the Palestinian Community Association of Victoria and singer Aseel Tayah for their powerful words imbued with overwhelming sorrow, grief, truth and a hope for peace. I call for a ceasefire for the protection of civilian rights, for adherence to international law, for all Israeli hostages to be released and for the humanitarian corridors to be created. My heart breaks, my spirit weeps – all lives are precious.