Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Motions

Middle East conflict

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (13:56): I move, by leave:

That this house:

(1) notes that:

(a) starvation of civilians is prohibited under international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime under article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Rome Statute and customary IHL rule 53;

(b) the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has confirmed famine phase 5 in Gaza governorate and projects expansion of famine to further areas by the end of September 2025, meaning that at least 500,000 people face starvation, destitution and death;

(c) United Nations officials and agencies including WFP, UNICEF, OCHA and WHO report continuing child deaths from malnutrition and severe obstacles to aid access and warn that famine will worsen daily without unimpeded at-scale humanitarian relief;

(d) recent credible reporting records new starvation deaths and the killing of children in a designated safe zone while fetching water, demonstrating the collapse of basic civilian protections alongside famine conditions;

(2) condemns the use of starvation and obstruction of life-saving aid against civilians in Gaza and the targeting of people seeking food, water or medical care, consistent with Victoria’s commitment to human rights and the protection of children;

(3) calls on the government to advocate to its federal Labor counterparts to:

(a) impose sanctions on the State of Israel until there is compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, including targeted measures aimed at those responsible for serious violations;

(b) immediately suspend any two-way arms trade between Australia and Israel, including the export, import, licensing and co-production of components and dual-use items associated with weapons systems; and

(c) calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

Leave refused.