Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. – W H Auden.
The UN security council has now met on a number of occasions because of Israeli bombardment of Gaza. On two occasions the security council has failed to respond to the genocide in Gaza because of the veto powers of the United States. The US has financed, armed and is behind the genocide being perpetrated on the Palestinians. This has been confirmed by the American President Joe Biden’s visit to Tel Aviv and showing his support for the Israeli government’s decimation of the Palestinian people.
The atrocity at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza prompted the second meeting of the United Nations Security Council which heard statements from the Palestinian authority, the Israeli government and various Arab governments. Once again the United States blocked any attempt at a humanitarian solution and the bombardment continues on this thin strip of land that is running short of water, food, medical supplies and electricity.
Israel has been bombing all parts of Gaza indiscriminately but its ambassador was allowed to tell the security council a pack of lies about how it is all the Palestinians fault and they blame Hamas for the missile strike on the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital. This is despite the 75 years of Israeli occupation of Palestine.
President Biden has now got his second war, the first is Ukraine and now this Israeli genocide of the Palestinians and the ethnic cleansing from Gaza and the West Bank. Biden may get another war, less expected. Western governments including Australia have refused to call for a cease fire. This is despite moves in their parliaments, however small, calling for human rights.
Diplomacy has failed. Western and Arab governments are complicit.
Al-Ahli Arab Hospital is the oldest hospital in Gaza, founded in 1882 by the Church Mission Society of the Church of England. Before it was destroyed by Israeli bombardment it was managed by the Anglican Episcopal Church in Jerusalem. For some years the hospital was run by the Southern Baptist Convention, a US Christian group. The Archbishop of Canterbury had this to say: “Today I join my Anglican brothers and sisters in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank in their profound mourning after the atrocious attack on the Anglican-run Al Ahli Hospital yesterday, which follows so closely on from an attack on the same hospital on Friday evening.” However he went on to conflate with the attack on Jewish settlers near the Gazan border. The Archbishop is oblivious to the realities of the Israeli occupation. We have heard nothing from the supreme head of the Church of England, King Charles.
Western media has branded this as the Hamas-Israeli Conflict. This is not true. The Palestinian cause belongs to the world. The European President has given her full support to Tel Aviv. I have seen only one Irish delegate to the European parliament come out with anything approximating to Solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Another €1.5 billion in public money to be allocated to the European Defence Fund, to bankroll research and development by arms companies. The EU is militarising, all the while talking peace. But the last two weeks have shown just how unserious its commitment to peace really is. pic.twitter.com/wHnYMkO1zN
— Clare Daly (@ClareDalyMEP) October 18, 2023
Palestine cannot be left alone any more – Ramzy Baroud
Demonstrations around the world show Palestinians are not alone. However the politicians and the leaders, particularly those in the west, have ignored the call of the people and do not recognise the urgency of the situation. Demonstrations in setter and colonial states like Australia, USA, Britain, France etc are confined mainly to the Arab diaspora and their support from often fragmented left and socialist groups.
Below is the flag of the Palestinian people being flying from the Goodwill Bridge in Meanjin (Brisbane) prior to one of those demonstrations in response to the city and the state government supported the display of Israeli colours on the iconic story Bridge. The history of this flag is akin to that of the aboriginal flag. Both have been adopted in my lifetime not before. Both our flags of struggle. The Palestinian flag reflects the Arab uprising against the domination of the Ottoman empire. It was not adopted by the Palestinians until 1964. The aboriginal flag was designed by Harold Thomas and flown in 1971. It was was not fully adopted until 1997. This flag is often flowing alongside the Torres Strait Island flag.
There is one real difference between the two flags. The Palestinian flag was banned in 1980 and to this day Palestinians are arrested for carrying the flag of their national colours. That is apartheid for you.
Ian Curr
19 Oct 2023
