Last week, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded that Israeli forces are committing genocide in Gaza. This builds on previous research and conclusions from international experts, including Amnesty International and UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.
This week, in an historic moment 77 years in the making, Australia formally recognised the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly, joining the 147 UN member states that had already done so. This development is undoubtedly significant, but recognition alone is not enough. Australia must urgently step up and use every tool available to demand an end to the genocide and uphold international law.
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International spokesperson for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said:
“UN recognition of Palestine as a state is undoubtedly significant, but unless this recognition is accompanied by urgent, decisive action by the international community to end Israel’s genocide, unlawful occupation, and crime against humanity of apartheid against the Palestinian people it risks becoming a hollow gesture.
“Words alone won’t stop the atrocities.”
Since October 2023, the Israeli military’s relentless assault on Gaza has killed over 61,000 people – by conservative estimates. According to Israel’s own data, 83% of these people were civilians, including at least 17,400 children.
In January 2024, the International Court of Justice found that Israel’s actions plausibly amount to genocide; a determination that has intensified urgent calls from Palestinians, UN experts, genocide scholars and human rights organisations for international intervention. Since then, Israel has repeatedly and unlawfully blocked humanitarian access to Gaza, creating famine-level conditions and putting millions of lives at risk.
Despite the International Court of Justice also ruling its occupation and settlements as illegal, and the United Nations General Assembly resolution ordering Israel’s withdrawal by 18 September 2025, Israel has made no attempt to end its occupation of Palestine. To the contrary, it has approved major expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank in the period since the United Nations resolution.
These findings can no longer be ignored
These findings can no longer be ignored; Israel has unleashed systematic and deliberate destruction on almost two million Palestinians in Gaza, with total impunity. Australia has both legal and moral obligations to act. Email your MP to demand that the Australian Government takes urgent action to end the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
This latest report demands urgent action: all states, especially those with influence over Israel, must use every diplomatic, economic, and political tool to secure a lasting ceasefire and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. They must halt all arms transfers and assess all commercial links to ensure they are not supporting genocide, apartheid, war crimes, or the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
Justice for Palestinians cannot wait. The world must act now.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
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