Photo: A Palestinian girl holds a container at a food distribution point in the Nuseirat camp for refugees in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2025.
Muslim community organisations including AFIC have condemned Australian Government’s continued inaction as International allies begin taking real steps against Israel during its increasingly intensive onslaught in Gaza.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) expressed deep frustration and condemnation at the Australian Government’s persistently weak and symbolic response to Israel’s ongoing atrocities in Gaza.
Despite growing consensus among international legal experts, human rights organisations, and United Nations bodies that a genocide is underway, Australia continues to issue hollow statements instead of taking decisive, tangible action.
The latest developments show a growing divergence between Australia and its international allies. The United Kingdom has suspended trade talks with Israel, while France, Canada, and the UK have issued strong joint threats of concrete action in response to Israel’s extremist policies and its ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid. Even the United States has begun publicly criticising the Netanyahu government.
Yet Australia continues to trail behind, choosing to condemn in words while abstaining from meaningful action. A joint statement demanding humanitarian aid access—while welcome—falls far short of the moral, legal, and political response required in the face of what is clearly the most well-documented genocide of our generation.
“We are more than 18 months into a genocide. Children are starving. Hospitals have been bombed. Entire families wiped out. Journalists, aid workers, and civilians have been deliberately targeted. And yet the Australian Government refuses to take even the most basic actions—no sanctions, no suspension of military cooperation, no recognition of the State of Palestine. At what point does our government believe action becomes appropriate?”
This is not simply a matter of foreign policy, it is a test of Australia’s integrity, morality, and standing in the international community. If Australia’s only response to genocide is polite disappointment and diplomatic hedging, then we are not neutral, we are complicit.
Let us be clear:
- It is no longer about whether Australia can influence Israel’s behaviour. It is about what Australia itself chooses to stand for.
- It is no longer about diplomatic language. It is about justice, accountability, and the basic dignity of a people being exterminated before our eyes.
AFIC has called again on the Australian Government to take immediate, concrete steps, including:
- Imposing targeted sanctions on Israeli officials and institutions complicit in war crimes.
- Suspending all military cooperation and arms trade with Israel.
- Supporting international accountability mechanisms at the ICC and ICJ.
- Recognising the State of Palestine.
- Demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and full access for humanitarian aid.
The time for caution and carefully worded statements has long passed. If Australia continues on its current path, it will not be remembered for its diplomacy – it will be remembered for its silence.
History will not absolve those who failed to act.
Are those ministers actually naive enough to think that their short lived immunity as a minister will protect them from being followed and prosecuted for complicity in war crimes?!
We’re cursed with politicians with an IQ barely above room temperature!
The time has come for decisive action by the Australian Government now particularly the foreign minister Penny Wong for all of AFIC’S demands and I hope that AMUST sends to all parliamentarians who are friends of Palestine and the Palestinian people its excellent articles
concerning the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Whilst Australia has joined with 23 other countries to call for the immediate end of the food, medicine and fuel blockade and the cessation by Israel of its current Gaza offensive( designed to terrorise the Gazan Palestinians) mere words are not enough and concrete action is required as detailed by Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the European Union who have threatened trade sanctions and other measure which Australia also should support.
The time has come for decisive action by the Australian Government now particularly the foreign minister Penny Wong for all of AFIC’S demands and I hope that AMUST sends to all parliamentarians who are friends of Palestine and the Palestinian people its excellent articles
concerning the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Whilst Australia has joined with 23 other countries to call for the immediate end of the food, medicine and fuel blockade and the cessation by Israel of its current Gaza offensive( designed to terrorise the Gazan Palestinians) mere words are not enough and concrete action is required as detailed by Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the European Union who have threatened trade sanctions and other measure which Australia also should support.