Thursday, 15 May 2025

Middle East conflict

Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (01:47): (1146) My adjournment is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and I request an update on the valuable support the Victorian government is providing for the new arrivals from Gaza. Today is Vyshyvanka Day. I wear this in unity with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine as they fight for freedom, justice and self-determination. I pray that peace talks today went well. Standing on the beaches at Gallipoli on Anzac Day I reflected on the tragedy of war and of the mostly young lives that were lost. It breaks my heart that wars continue across the globe, but what appals me even more is that the lives of civilians now seem to be a target. The killing of innocent men, women and children has become commonplace in so many conflicts around the world, such as in Sudan, Myanmar, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Ukraine.

The UN has observed a significant increase in civilian casualties, with a 72 per cent increase in 2023. The latest security report states that the proportion of women and children killed doubled and tripled respectively, while sexual violence has increased by 50 per cent. Over two-thirds of recorded deaths have occurred in Palestine, primarily among women and children, making it the deadliest conflict for civilians in 2023. And 2024 was the deadliest year on record for journalists, with 124 reporters killed across 18 countries. Both surges in fatalities were largely driven by the war in Gaza, where over 400 aid workers and 175 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the conflict. According to the UN no-one is spared – not the children, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers, journalists, health professionals, aid workers or hostages. Since breaking the ceasefire Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians, peaking on 18 March with 600 casualties in 24 hours, 400 of whom were children. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, homes were reduced to rubble and food and water have been cut off for months, inducing starvation, dehydration and disease under the blockade. I have spoken about the atrocities in Gaza in this place many times. The killing of civilians and starving of populations is reprehensible, indefensible and unforgivable.

Australia has supplied millions in aid, doubling funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and approved thousands of visa applications. I thank the many in my community that have supported these refugees. Our federal Labor government has a proud record of voting at the UN, and despite misinformation, Australia has not supplied weapons to Israel during the conflict. State government arrangements with SIBAT and Elbit Systems have ended. Labor’s own ‘Doc’ Evatt played a key role in creating the United Nations after the tragic loss of over 6 million Jewish lives in the Holocaust. I stand here today imploring governments around the world to recommit to the noble aims of the UN and the protection of civilians in accordance with international law.