In recent days, Israel has struck tents of displaced people sheltering in Rafah in horrific attacks that caused the death of dozens of civilians, including children. Nowhere is safe in Gaza, and our Members of Parliament must speak out.
On 24 May 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to stop its operations in Rafah. The Court made it crystal clear: any ongoing military action could constitute an underlying act of genocide.
The ruling came only days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) applied for arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The application for arrest warrants provides hope that those responsible, both Palestinian and Israeli, will be held accountable for the devastation they have waged. But the Opposition Leader has called for the Prime Minister to “pressure the ICC to reverse this terrible decision.” These comments, alongside attempts to pressure the ICC by US politicians, furthers the cycle of impunity for perpetrators of violence.
It is now four months since the ICJ ruled that the survival of Palestinians is at risk. In that time, the humanitarian situation for Palestinians has worsened. 35,000 Palestinians have been killed. The UN has declared a famine, and as more children in Gaza starve to death, Israel has closed the Rafah crossing since 7 May.
The amount of aid entering Gaza, including food, fuel, and medical supplies, is at some of the lowest levels in the last seven months. Nearly every hospital in Gaza has either been issued ‘evacuation orders’, is under an Israeli siege, or will soon run out of fuel and supplies.
We need to make it clear that Australians support a ceasefire, unimpeded access to aid, and justice for Palestinians, and want their Members of Parliament to stand with them and call for a ceasefire and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and show their support for accountability.
It is imperative that all Members of Parliament speak out. Your Member is elected to represent you, so it’s important they know that you as a constituent want them to take action.
Email your Member of Parliament and urge them to call for a ceasefire and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and show their support for accountability.