Amnesty International Australia welcomes and commends the Foreign Minister’s announcement of Australia’s joint position calling for the immediate and full resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
We further express our strong support for the Minister’s call to ensure that the United Nations and humanitarian organisations are able to operate independently and impartially, in accordance with international humanitarian principles, to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and uphold human dignity.
While this announcement provides a glimmer of hope for Palestinians in Gaza facing catastrophic famine, it comes distressingly late. In the face of Israel’s genocide, unlawful occupation and apartheid regime, statements alone are insufficient.
Amnesty calls on the Australian Government and international community to ensure that Israel immediately complies with the measures ordered by the International Court of Justice.
This includes providing basic aid and humanitarian assistance, ending the unlawful occupation, and preventing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Australia must also play its role to ensure Israel is held accountable for any war crimes and crimes against humanity and comply with its obligations under the Geneva Conventions.
Amnesty International Australia reiterates its call for Australia to immediately halt the sale and transfer of arms, parts, and related assistance that may contribute to serious violations of international law. We urge immediate action to bring an end to the unlawful occupation, the apartheid regime and genocide.
Following the UK’s suspension of free trade negotiations with Israel, we call on Australia and other Governments to adopt principled and coordinated positions. Australia must use all available diplomatic, legal, and economic measures to stop the ongoing atrocities and to ensure the immediate, sustained, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson, says:
“The Gaza genocide has seen almost two million Palestinians endure relentless bombardment, and constant forced displacement while Israel has systematically weaponised starvation and the denial of aid as tools of collective punishment. For 18 years, Gaza has been subjected to an illegal siege that has deliberately crippled every aspect of daily life, enabled by the apartheid regime and unlawful occupation.
“For 11-weeks, not a single aid truck was allowed into Gaza. The UN World Food Programme has food stockpiled at the border, enough to feed 1 million people for four months. Israel’s recent decision to finally allow just nine aid trucks into Gaza is woefully inadequate for a population of nearly two million who are, and have been, deliberately starved.
“Israel’s recent decision to finally allow just nine aid trucks into Gaza is woefully inadequate for a population of nearly two million who are, and have been, deliberately starved.
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson
“As the occupying power, Israel has obligations under international law to ensure the unhindered entry of food, water, medical supplies and aid. Its failure to do so may amount to serious breaches of international law and constitute criminal responsibility. This blockade has only partially lifted, leaving the delivery of food and aid as grossly insufficient given the unprecedented scale of suffering we are witnessing.
“Minister Wong’s announcement signals that Australia is moving in the right direction. However, we urge stronger, concrete actions including the halt of the sale of arms or arms parts to Israel as a matter of urgency.”
Mohamed Duar
“Minister Wong’s announcement signals that Australia is moving in the right direction. However, we urge stronger, concrete actions including the halt of the sale of arms or arms parts to Israel as a matter of urgency. Such a decisive action is necessary for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the civilian suffering in Gaza.”
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