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Palestinian Arabs

Australia's Inaction in Gaza: A Call for Stronger Action

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the conflict in Gaza continues, with 37,000 people killed and 84,000 injured, the Australian government's responses have been widely criticized as insufficient. Despite supportive statements from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Australia has not taken the stronger steps that other Western countries have implemented to condemn the mass atrocities committed by Israel.

Key Takeaways:

  • Australia has rightfully condemned Hamas's actions on October 7, 2023, but has not taken the same level of action against Israel's response, which many consider to be disproportionate and revenge-driven.
  • The International Court of Justice ruled on May 24, 2024, that Israel should "halt its military offensive" in Rafah, but Israel has continued to assault the area, displacing over 800,000 people and shutting down the largest hospital.
  • Independent UN experts have called on governments and companies to stop arms transfers to Israel, citing human rights violations.
  • Australia's response has been criticized for being inconsistent, with the country's companies providing components for equipment used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) despite the government's claims that no military equipment has been sent to Israel since the start of the war.

Specific examples of Australia's inaction include:

  • The Australian government has not recognized Palestine as a state, despite the majority of the world recognizing Palestine's right to self-determination.
  • Australia has not cut its military ties with Israel, despite UN experts' calls to do so.
  • Australian companies have 70 contracts with Lockheed Martin, worth $A4.13 billion, to provide components for equipment used by the IDF in its war on Gaza.
  • Australia has awarded a contract of $917 million to the Israeli Elbit Systems to build military equipment in Victoria, despite Elbit's involvement in human rights abuses in Myanmar.

Statistics:

  • 22 displaced civilians, sheltering in their tents in Mawasi in southern Gaza, were killed by Israeli airstrikes in the past week.
  • 37,000 people in Gaza have been killed, and 84,000 injured, in the conflict.
  • 800,000 people have been displaced from Rafah.
  • Israel has continued to use white phosphorus weapons and bombard safe zones and humanitarian workers.
  • 146 countries, including Ireland, Norway, and Spain, recognize Palestine as a state.

Sources:

  • "Australia's Inaction in Gaza" by Annabel Dulhunty.
  • Statement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
  • Statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.
  • International Court of Justice ruling on May 24, 2024.
  • United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner press release.
  • Dutch court order to cease supplying components for the F-35s.
  • Report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
  • International Criminal Court ruling on war crimes.

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