76 years since the forced displacement of Palestinians by the state of Israel began, and 12 months since the beginning of the current escalation in violence in Gaza, Amnesty International Australia urgently calls on the Australian government to uphold Australia’s obligations under international law, increase international pressure for a sustainable ceasefire and the safe return of civilian hostages, and to use diplomatic efforts to call for an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
“While we solemnly mark one year since the harrowing attacks on Israel by Hamas on October 7th and 12 months of devastation in Gaza, including more than 41,000 people killed, Amnesty International also expresses its sorrow at 76 years of apartheid and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people by the state of Israel,” says Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s spokesperson for Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Impartial and independent research by Amnesty International reveals the true extent of Israel’s apartheid regime, which began 76 years ago. Across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Palestinians are treated as an inferior racial group and systematically deprived of their rights. Amnesty International has documented Israel’s cruel policies of segregation, restriction of movement, dispossession and exclusion across Gaza, East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank and Israel itself, which clearly amount to apartheid.
“Israel must end its unlawful, brutal military occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank as ruled by the International Court of Justice. The longest occupation in the World is enabled by a system of apartheid and Israel must comply with international law,”
Mohamed Duar, Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson
“Israel must end its unlawful, brutal military occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank as ruled by the International Court of Justice. The longest occupation in the World is enabled by a system of apartheid and Israel must comply with international law,” says Mohamed Duar, Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson.
“Palestinians still endure the daily indignity of restrictions of freedom of movement, checkpoints, arbitrary detention and arrest, and Gaza continues to be under siege for 17 years.”
76 years and 12 months
76 years after the Nakba, there is nowhere safe for civilians in the Occupied Territory, humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza remains stalled, the system of apartheid entrenched through the unlawful occupation continues. Civilians, humanitarians, medical workers and journalists have been attacked despite being explicitly protected under international law.
“It is unconscionable that 12 months after the escalation in violence in Gaza and Israel there is still no ceasefire,” says Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s spokesperson for Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“As we mark this sombre anniversary, we stand united with communities in their grief and mourning. We commemorate the over 41,000 Palestinian lives lost, and 1,139 Israelis killed. Amnesty International stands with Palestinian and Jewish communities here in Australia as we pass this devastating milestone,” says Mohamed Duar.
International Law must be upheld
International law and the Geneva Conventions that were designed to protect civilian life from war crimes are at increasing risk of degradation to the point of irrelevance if repeated breaches of international law are allowed to prevail with impunity.
States, including Australia, must not – and cannot – accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court.
Amnesty International Australia reiterates its call on Prime Minister Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Australia’s diplomatic apparatus to apply pressure for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, immediate humanitarian aid access for civilians in Gaza, the release of civilian hostages and to support the independent International Criminal Court investigation into the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Amnesty International also calls for the government to create greater transparency over Australia’s arms exports to ensure that Australia is not supplying arms or arms parts to Israel via intermediate countries, to ban products from Israeli settlements, and for a pathway to permanent protection for Palestinians fleeing Gaza.
