I join over 1.8 billion Muslims in observing the holy month of Ramadan—a time for spiritual reflection, fasting, prayer and community connection. During this sacred month it is important to reflect on the meaning and significance of Ramadan, and to empathise with those less fortunate, whoever they are or wherever they may be. Ramadan is a time of introspection, good deeds and self-discipline. Muslims fast from first light until sunset, abstaining from food and drink. Ramadan is a time to focus on faith, charity and compassion—a time to strive to be better individuals and members of society.
It is normally a time of great joy, but this Ramadan an overwhelming sadness hangs over the people of my electorate. While we will break our fast in safety and with plenty of food, it will not be like that for the people of Gaza. As we begin this holy month, we remember the families in Gaza who are currently suffering in the most horrific ways. We are devastated by the attacks on Gaza that have resulted in an estimated 31,000 people being killed—most heartbreakingly, around 14,000 of them being children.
The images hurting my community show an obliteration of homes, schools, hospitals and universities, creating a perception that there is a clear objective to flatten Gaza and all its social infrastructure. As we gather around our loved ones and break our fast, at the forefront of our prayers are those in the most unimaginable of circumstances. My electorate is mourning for innocent people who have nowhere safe to go, who have seen family members killed by an army without any regard for the international rules of war and by soldiers who have been recorded boasting of their kills, looting and bombings. We see collective punishment inflicted on the people of Gaza—a tragic and heart-wrenching reality that cannot be ignored.
Our thoughts are with the people of Gaza, who do not know if they will survive from one hour to the next, who do not know if they will die from a missile strike, from starvation or from illness. While it is not possible to speak of the 31,000 people individually, it is impossible to forget six-year-old Hind—whose body was found in a car, decomposing under the rubble after a missile strike, her frantic pleas for help silenced when the ambulance that was dispatched to rescue her was also bombed—or the horrific images of parents carrying the body parts of their children in clear plastic bags, or the bombings of hospitals and the babies who died because of them. How do you cope with seeing parents write their children’s names on their arms and the soles of their feet so they could be identified in case a missile strike tore them apart? It is confronting, yes. It is horrific, yes. But it is the lived experience of children in Gaza, and we cannot ignore the reality of things that cannot be unseen.
People in my electorate are horrified by what Rafah has become—a place of refuge that is anything but, a million desperate people crammed together in what has effectively become an open-air target. Of all of the images that have seared at my community’s heart, the recent attack where over 100 people died after they scrambled for aid and were shot at struck a particularly raw nerve. It cannot be like this; humanity cannot be like this. This is not humanity. Humanity is not about the systematic destruction of a people and a place. Humanity is in finding common threads and appreciating that all people are of equal worth. We see examples of people being condemned and accused of antisemitism for supporting human rights and challenging the Israeli Government’s actions in Gaza. That is not right. There must be an end to the senseless death and destruction, and I reiterate my call for an immediate ceasefire. How many more people must die? When is enough enough? As I said, almost exactly five months ago to the day, no-one wins in war.
During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to give to charity and to help those in need. As we observe this holy month, let us remember the importance of compassion, generosity and solidarity with our fellow human beings. Let us remember those in Gaza who suffer the devastating impact of some of the most unimaginable events we have seen in our times. Let us urge the Israel Government to live up to its moral commitment by adhering to all components of international law, not picking and choosing which elements it wants to support. Let us hope the Netanyahu Government changes course and takes a humanitarian approach.
Normally I would finish a message about Ramadan by saying, “Happy Ramadan”, but this year it is not a joyous time. Instead, I offer a prayer on behalf of my community that the blessings of this month bring about a softening of hearts, an opening of minds, a willingness to change and, ultimately, a just and a lasting peace. Ramadan Mubarak.
Read full speech here: https:
//www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1323879322-139292/link/110
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