The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Dr Michelle Bachelet has expressed ‘alarm’ at the large number of Palestinians, particularly children killed and injured by recent Israeli attacks and a number of Australian Muslim organisations including AFIC and IFAM have called on the Australian government to pressure Israel to lift siege on Gaza.
In a media release on Thursday 10 August Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) called for the Australian Government to take a strong stand against Israel regarding the attacks on Gaza.
“We demand the Albanese government to denounce Israel as an apartheid and rogue state that kills innocent Palestinians including children and pressure it to lift the siege on Gaza that has left the resident living in misery”
AFIC asked the Khatibs at Juma prayers to highlight the plight of people in Gaza and create awareness of the violation of Palestinian human rights of Palestinians amongst all Australians.
Following Israeli’s bombardment of Gaza, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) Vice-President Nasser Mashni highlighted the extreme humanitarian crisis caused by the 15-year siege, as well as the active complicity of other countries where the Israeli siege of Gaza only possible through international complicity.
He also laid out what a peaceful and just solution would be to end the violence against Palestinians.
The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has called the latest Israeli strikes on the territory illegal and irresponsible.
Her predecessor concluded earlier this year that Israel’s occupation of Palestine constitutes apartheid. He accused the international community of failing to hold Israel to account for breaching fundamental international norms over its 55-year occupation.
I applaud AMUST for its service to the Muslim community as in raising awareness of the impunity Israel enjoys from all its crimes against humanity. No MP from both Australian major parties has made a single reference to the attack on Gaza.
On another topic, I cannot but help compare AMUST’s solidarity and humanity for Palestinians with the utter indifference of Australia’s elected Muslim parliamentarians – Senator Fatima Payman and Cabinet ministers Anne Aly and Ed Husic – towards the recent brutal attack on already suffering Gazans. Surely the killing of 17 children among the 48 and the fact that of the 360 Palestinians reported injured, nearly two-thirds were civilians, including 151 children, 58 women and 19 older people is worthy at least of a mention among their prolific posts and statements?
If Ed Husic could mourn on his Facebook page the passing of Olivia Newton John and if he and his Muslim colleagues could post pictures of their social outings, surely they could easily have spared a moment of their time to mention those Palestinian children?
If you ask me, a child’s life cut short by a shell or bomb is as worthy of mention as the passing of an elderly person of natural causes.
I remember the excitement and joy and particularly the expectations raised when all of us heard the news about their election and appointment to places of power and leverage.
I’ll speak for myself and say I am not just disappointed, I am sadly wiser by this betrayal. 😥😥
Speaking Truth to brute Power has never been an easy option. The beloved Grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Husain did it on the burning sands of Karbala at the cost of his and his family lives.
Lest we forget !
you are a supp0rter of terr0ri$m David. Shame on you!