Re: Targeted killings by Israeli occupation forces on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
We are calling on the Prime Minister to relax tight restrictions on Palestinian travel to Australia, just as he did for Ukrainians. Palestinians have a right to work, study and reunite with family and friends abroad.
In rejecting the petition why does the parliamentary committee say that “The petition is not a matter for the House of Representatives.” Especially when the Prime Minister was prepared to relax visa restrictions on Ukrainians escaping violence in their country. Yet Palestinians are not accorded similar assistance at a time when Israeli occupation forces are committing murders on the West Bank and on the Gaza strip?
Democracy in Australia?
People keep saying that Australia is a democracy. But where is the evidence for that when the Australian government keeps following the United States on the question of Palestine. Even the United Nations which set up the state of Israel is questioning their support for the ‘apartheid state‘.
I submitted petition EN4627 dated 10 Nov 2022 on behalf of a beleaguered Palestinian family on the West Bank and made the following request of the House of Representatives: “We therefore ask the House to require the relevant Minister to provide travel documents to stateless Palestinians, W. and B.”
I received no email dated Wednesday 23 Nov 2022 from the petitions committee sent, as claimed by Petitions Reps Committee. Subsequently the committee rejected Petition EN4627. The petition was supported by my local member, Max Chandler-Mather MP – member for Griffith.
The committee’s reason for rejecting the petition: “The petition does not include a ‘Request’ to the House.” It certainly did. I could not name the persons referred to as W. and B. because their lives are at risk.
The reason given for taking up petition EN4627 was: “Targeted killings by Israeli occupation forces as per UN REPORT ON THE WEST BANK DATED 28th October 2022” was based on UN report about targeted killing on the West Bank.
People can sign a similar petition at https://chng.it/zSKN57bsQk but since it addresses a parliament that refuses to listen what is the point?
I can’t see what is wrong with asking the Prime Minister to relax travel restrictions for Palestinians fleeing violence from Israeli occupation forces? The Prime did so for Ukrainians.
Australia will provide temporary humanitarian visas for Ukrainians, along with an extra $50 million in military and humanitarian support, the federal government has announced.
- Ukrainians in Australia can now apply for three-year temporary protection visas
- Australia is providing a further $30 million in humanitarian aid and $21 million in military support for Ukraine
- Australia is donating coal to Ukraine to help keep the country’s power on
The temporary humanitarian visas will allow Ukrainians who have already arrived in Australia to stay for up to three years with the ability to work, study and access Medicare.
ABC report “Scott Morrison announces visas for Ukrainians” by Melissa Clark, Sun 20 Mar 2022
Why are Palestinians treated so differently? The parliament called upon Iran to stop shooting protestors, why can’t the parliament censure Israel for murdering the children of the Palestinian resistance.
As at 25 Nov 2022, over 3,300 people have signed this petition at https://chng.it/zSKN57bsQk !
Ian Curr
The Big Ride for Palestine (Australia)
25 Nov 2022
The Big Ride for Palestine (Australia) is an initiative by supporters of the Palestinian people that combines a love of cycling with practical solidarity and awareness raising.
We want to bring attention to the human rights abuses endured by the Palestinian people, the brutal military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and Israel’s continued violation of international law. This includes Israel’s proposed annexation of the West Bank.
We also stand in solidarity with Palestinian refugees in other countries, particularly Lebanon where people are enduring a multitude of health and economic crises.
We raise money to support organisations that struggle to allow Palestinian people to live with dignity and peace.
September 30, 2022
“Take Israel to the ICC:” the Families of 5 Children Killed in Israeli Airstrike Demand Justice
Umm Hamed Najm, mother of Hamed Najm, 16, killed in the Fallujah cemetery massacre.
“If this happened in Israel, they would have gained so much international support, everything would be turned upside down, because we are talking about children in a graveyard”, says Fayez Abu Karsh, a Palestinian father who lost his son to an Israeli airstrike. The families of the victims now call for Israel to be brought to the International Criminal Court to be tried for war crimes.
On August the 7th an Israeli airstrike killed five Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. Israel initially tried to blame the massacre on a misfired Palestinian rocket. However, after it was clear that the shrapnel removed from the bodies was of an Israeli munition, unnamed Israeli officials took responsibility for the strike, 9 days later, according to Israel’s Haaretz news.
Israel’s three day attack on the Gaza Strip, earlier this August, resulted in 49 Palestinian deaths, 17 of which were children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. No Israelis were killed or sustained notable injuries. Israel claimed that its military were targeting Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Party fighters, yet the majority killed were civilians.
Various attacks against civilians were recorded by human rights groups in Gaza. Perhaps the most shocking of which occurred at the Fallujah cemetery, located in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip. It took place at around 7PM (local time), on August 7, when an Israeli airstrike murdered a group of children visiting the graves of family members. The victims names were Nazmi Karsh, 15 years old, Hamed Najm, 16 years old, Mohammad Najm, 16 years old, Jamil Ihab Najm, 13 years old, and Jamil Najim al-Din Najm who was only 3 years old. Three of the young boys were already being treated for trauma, at a Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)’s facility in Gaza, before their deaths. See https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/09/30/take-israel-to-the-icc-the-families-of-5-children-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-demand-justice/
Robert Inlakesh
30 Sept 2022
Dear Ms Wong,
I write on behalf of Byron Friends of Palestine. Recently you announced sanctions against Iran’s morality police and eulogised Australia’s commitment to human rights. However, no sanctions have been imposed on apartheid Israel which, as the quote below by Gerry Adams attests, continues its “massacre by instalments” against the Palestinian population. How can the Albanese government fulfil its legal obligations under the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, while it maintains such an intimate relationship with Israel? If Australia does not recognise Israel as an apartheid state, could you specify its reasons for rejecting the allegations of apartheid made against Israel by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’tselem et al? I would be obliged if you could send me the latest report by Australia as required under Article VII of the Convention.
https://belfastmedia.com/a-massacre-in-instalments-eebca45c-08bd-49cc-ba53-ac2ba9ba058d
Gerry Adams : AS I write this column the number of Palestinians killed this year by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza strip is 207. By the time it is published in a few days time that number will have increased. Last Friday I watched online video of the last moments of Ammar Mufleh, aged 23, shot dead in Huwara, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, by an Israeli soldier. He was the tenth Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in 10 days.
Shamefully, the mainstream western-based international media and many governments chose not to report this or comment on this and other recent events. They have chosen to ignore the daily brutality and excesses of the Israeli apartheid state. Hanan Ashrawi, the former Palestinian peace negotiator, described the Palestinian deaths this year and the 80,000 that have occurred since 1967 as “a massacre in installments”.
Finally, despite your access to our intelligence services, you appear to be blissfully unaware of Israel’s egregious crimes in occupied Palestine, therefore I shall send you relevant reports so that you can never claim you did not know!
Gareth Smith
11 Dec 2022