After completely destroying Gaza killing over 40,000 people for a year, terrorising Palestinians in the West Bank for months, Israel has now fully directed its terrorist onslaught on the people of Lebanon killing hundreds of people, injuring thousands and displacing tens of thousands overnight from South Lebanon.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), the Alliance of Australian Muslims (AAM) and Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) condemned and vowed to stand firmly against Israel’s escalation of the war into Lebanon calling on the international community, including the Australian Government not to stand by as it did during the Gaza genocide for almost a year.
The terrorist tactics employed by Israeli intelligence, in contravention of International law, last week resulted in almost 50 deaths and injuries to almost 3000 people mainly to hands, eyes and face when thousands of communications devices exploded in different parts of Lebanon many of them civilians in an indiscriminate manner.
The statement released by AAM and ANIC states, “Israel continues to act as a country above international law. Just last week, a motion to impose sanctions on Israel for its actions in Palestine was introduced at the United Nations, and there is deep disappointment over Australia’s abstention. Now, just days later, we are witnessing the conflict expand into another sovereign state.”
Dr Rateb Jneid, President of AFIC, stated, “The relentless bombings in Lebanon over the past three days represent a grave escalation of conflict that risks further destabilisation of the region. The international community, including the Australian Government, must not stand by as it did during the Gaza catastrophe.”
“Let us be clear: inaction is complicity. We must not fail the people of Lebanon as we failed the people of Gaza. It is time for the international community to uphold its responsibility and actively support efforts to restore peace,” Dr Jneid further added.
Israeli aerial strikes on homes and villages in southern Lebanon on Monday 23 September killed more than 500 people, including more than 100 women and children according to Lebanese authorities.
Thousands of Lebanese fled the south, and the main highway out of the southern port city of Sidon was jammed with cars heading toward Beirut in the biggest exodus since 2006.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said the earlier strikes hit hospitals, medical centers and ambulances. The government ordered schools and universities to close across most of the country and began preparing shelters for the displaced.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon expressed “grave concern” in a statement on Monday, “for the safety of civilians in southern Lebanon amidst the most intense Israeli bombing campaign since last October.”
“Any further escalation of this dangerous situation could have far-reaching and devastating consequences, not only for those living on both sides of the Blue Line but also for the broader region,” the statement read. “Attacks on civilians are not only violations of international law but could amount to war crimes.”
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