The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) has welcomed recent developments in Belgium, where Israeli soldiers were questioned under universal jurisdiction for alleged war crimes in Gaza, and similar legal actions reported in Canada, Brazil, Serbia, Thailand, and the Netherlands.
Several British dual nationals have also been referred to the UK’s war crimes unit over participation in Israeli military operations in Gaza .
These efforts by foreign governments to uphold international law reflect a growing global push to hold individuals accountable under the Geneva Conventions and other treaties.
It is both reasonable and necessary for Australia to follow suit.
The Australian Border Force has previously questioned Australians suspected of attempting to join the IDF, and that the Criminal Code empowers the AFP to investigate war crimes committed overseas.
AFIC has urged the Australian Government to:
- Direct the AFP and relevant authorities to open investigations into any Australians serving in the IDF, reservist units, or materially supporting actions in Gaza that may constitute war crimes.
- Apply the principle of universal jurisdiction consistently and without political hesitation, ensuring no individual is placed above the law.
- Ensure transparency with the public by communicating that Australian accountability is not optional, it is a legal and moral obligation under international law.
“If other countries can act, so must Australia. No nation should view itself as exempt from basic international justice, especially when allegations involve participation in a genocide that has killed tens of thousands,” said Dr Rateb Jneid, President of AFIC.
He further added, “We call on the Australian Government to prove that justice in Australia is not just for others, it is for our own citizens too.”
In addition, AFIC has called on the Government to publicly support ongoing ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant and fully cooperate with international investigations into Gaza war crimes.
Australia’s standing in the global community depends on our willingness to enforce accountability at home and abroad.
During the Hawke Federal Government, Australia had a world war II War Crimes Unit in the Attorney-General’s Department which resulted in the prosecution of many Nazi War criminals who had fled to Australia. I recommend that the Australian Government re-establish a similar unit to investigate and prosecute the 1000 Australians who are fighting with the Israeli Defence Force
for War Crimes in Gaza which has been correctly labelled as a Genocide with the criminal collective punishment of the Gazan Palestinian people and usage of starvation as a weapon of of war by Israel with the UN describing the situation as “apocalyptic”. The Australian community requires to be protected from such fighters for the Israeli Defence Force when they return and in order to protect our international reputation as a country governed by the rule of law.
Our lukewarm response by our politicians on the ongoing real-time Genocide in Gaza ( unlike ordinary Australians on Sydney bridge and elsewhere) should not be compounded by allowing our citizens to participate in the IDF Genocide spree. Shying away from the word G is a moral shame, and giving a free pass to those keen to join in the ongoing Genocide is the crime of complicity.