Hassan al Hassan has been on a hunger strike since Tuesday 29 July, initially in front of the Australian Parliament House, and now in Sydney.
Born in Iraq, Hassan migrated to Australia as a child with his family 25 years ago. The US-enabled, Israeli-manufactured humanitarian crisis in Gaza moved Hassan to make a statement.
“l, like many people I know, am being swilled by guilt knowing there are millions being punished through starvation in Gaza, while my belly is full every night. Being hungry is a reminder of what’s happening,” he explained.
“Australia must put pressure on Israel to end its genocide and starvation campaign in Gaza.”
He demands Australia takes the following action against Israel until full unrestricted humanitarian aid is allowed to flow into Gaza:
- Weapons embargo
- Economic sanctions
- Cut of diplomatic ties with Israel
“My wife has been extremely supportive, even though we have a small baby girl who she has needed to take care of alone for most of the week, she understands that we can’t just sit idly by and continue to donate money, knowing that our donations can’t make it to these starving children. I also have a close friend who allowed me to crash at his place while I protested in the capital,” Hassan said.
“My message is to PM Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, as well as the rest of parliament and government members who have made no real effort to stop the genocide.
“This is not going away, no matter how much you ignore it. When the dust settles, this will be recorded as the moment that defined the modern era. There are only two ways this ends for you, so I implore you to think of your legacy.
“Option 1 is to be immortalised in history as the leaders of a nation who armed, aided and abetted an ICC convicted war criminal and his warmongering cabinet exercise a genocide, and risk future prosecution yourselves.
“Option 2 is to be the leaders of the free world who led by example, stood against barbarism and cruelty, and showed this international criminal and his ilk that Australia will never stand with genocide and the starvation of children.”
Hassan continues the hunger strike, even on his return to Sydney by eating nothing between 9am and 9pm and then a small meal (appoximately 400 calories) between 9pm to 9am, to gain a semblance of what it is like for Gazans who go for days without any food.
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