Jews Against the Occupation ’48 issued the following statement on May 19.
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When Israel broke the ceasefire agreement in March, it not only resumed its bombardment of Gaza with a vengeance, but also imposed a complete siege on the strip, blocking all aid.
The world has seen the deliberate starvation and murder of Gaza’s population and the total destruction of towns, cities and refugee camps (safe zones), live stream on TV. We are witnessing genocide.
You know very well that Israel is getting away with illegal warfare, torture, starvation, collective punishment and the crime of crimes - genocide - with complete impunity. You would also understand by now that Israel has no intention to stop its genocidal war on Gaza.
In fact, Israel openly admits that the purpose of their latest onslaught, operation Gideon’s Chariots, is to either force the Gazans out, or kill them off.
It is clear that Israel can only be stopped by outside forces. And it is Australia’s responsibility by law to do everything in its power to stop Israel’s illegal war and unlawful occupation.
Even though Netanyahu’s office announced it will temporarily allow a “basic amount” of food into Gaza, without specifying how much and how, we can be sure this announcement is only part of delaying their master plan: the permanent annexation of Palestinian land.
If genocide, brutal occupation, colonisation and apartheid are not grave enough to prompt bold action, surely western countries like Australia, who are Israel’s staunch allies, would permanently lose face, if they do not move more than a finger to prevent the impending infanticide in Gaza.
Although Australia has finally joined a number of countries calling for aid to be allowed into the Gaza strip, it seems our country has done very little to address to core issues.
Therefore we urge you to show leadership: Dispatch official diplomatic missions immediately; join the humanitarian convoy and accompany the aid trucks waiting to enter Gaza; impose full sanctions on Israel and apply all available diplomatic pressure on Israel to force it to instantly and unconditionally lift the blockade and comply with international law.