Human Rights day in Gaza

On Human Rights day in Brisbane there was a march of about 3,000 people opposing the genocide in Gaza and calling on the Australian government to immediately insist on a ceasefire. At a rally in Emma Miller Place before the march, a Labor lawyer was beside herself with anger over the Australian government’s refusal to call a ceasefire. In Gaza it was far worse. People are dying in the streets. In Guernica the people pay homage to the civilians of Gaza.

ABC’s main source of news from Gaza?

What is the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC)’s main source of news regarding the Middle East, the United Nations? Independent new sources? Journalists on the ground? Maybe, some. The AAP? Reuters?

No, the Israeli Occupation Force that the ABC insists on asking the Israeli defence force (IDF) … as if they are not prodigious liars! As if Israel has not long ago forfeited the right to to so called self-defence, when it is the occupying power.

This is despite eight weeks of rallies where there are between three and six thousand people calling for a ceasefire on the streets of Brisbane. This has got to be one of the most sustained periods of mobilisation over any issue. Yet the ABC refuses to engage with these protest for an end to the occupation and a ceasefire in Gaza.

A few weeks ago 6,000 people marched on the ABC to make them aware of how important this is to the Brisbane community. Still Radio silence from the ABC.

Here are some excerpts from the ABC evening news report on Human Rights Day 10 Dec 2023:

“The IDF is urging residents in the strip’s second largest city to evacuate declaring Khan Younis the main stronghold of Hamas” – this is despite the fact that John Lyons one of their reporter said that fighting had broken out again in the north between Hamas and the IDF. Also it calls into question how biased is the ABC framing it as if it is safe to go south when many of the casualties have been in the south and no safe zone exists in the region. This has been repeated by the United Nations representatives for the past several weeks.

“These men claimed they were tortured after being taken prisoner by the IDF” – why is it, when a Palestinian says something, it’s merely a claim but when the Israeli occupation forces say something, it is a fact?

“To show it is impossible on the one hand to support the elimination of Hamas and on the other hand to call for an end to the war that will prevent the elimination of Hamas. Therefore Israel will continue our just war to eliminate Hamas.” – IDF spokesperson.

How is it a just war? Israel has occupied Gaza for 75 years they have encourage settlers both there and in the West Bank. What about Hamas’s right to resist the occupation?

Ian Curr reporting from the streets of Brisbane on Human Rights Day.
10 Dec 2023