While Israel breaks the ceasefire in Gaza and refuses to comply with the “peace plan” on food and aid, United States President Donald Trump threatens Hamas with elimination, unless it miraculously finds and hands over the remains of the last 13 Israelis trapped under rubble, which Israel’s missiles created.
Israel has also bombed southern and eastern Lebanon, killing three people, despite that ceasefire having begun almost a year ago.
According to the United Nations, an estimated 90% of the Gazan population is displaced and at least 1.5 million people urgently requiring emergency shelter assistance. As freezing nights descend on Gaza, the UN and partners are distributing 1 million hot meals daily. After Israel reneged on opening the Rafah border crossing, the UN demanded it open additional crossings to the north to allow more aid in.
; more than 170,000 people injured, including 5000 amputees and 3600 people with severe burns. At least 42,000 require long-term rehabilitation and 4000 women give birth each month “in unsafe conditions”. The UN has estimated that more than 1 million people need access to psychological health care. More than 700 people have died waiting for evacuation, the UN said.
Despite evidence of Israel’s genocide, the Australian government refuses to use the word to describe the two year operation. Its talking points on Israel’s genocide were inadvertently , centering around why it would not support Dr Mohammed Mustafa’s hospital proposal for Gaza. Greens Senator David Shoebridge said Labor uses the word “genocide” internally, but “won’t say it in public or Parliament”.
A Palestine solidarity rally and march on Gadigal Country/Sydney on October 26 kept up the pressure on Labor to sanction Israel and end the two-way arms trade, reports Peter Boyle.
Raneem Emad, from the Palestinian Action Group Sydney, told the rally: “The mass media is now telling us we should shut up and put up because the bombs have supposedly stopped falling and we should stop protesting but … the Israeli war machine knows nothing about a ceasefire, about peace and keeping Palestinians alive.”
Shoebridge told the rally the Australian government has continued to help arm Israel and refused to impose sanctions because of its “craven relationship with Washington”.
“Federal Labor, just like the Coalition, do what Donald Trump or Joe Biden or whoever else is in Washington tells them.
“If we want Australia to be part of a global movement for a free Palestine we need to cancel AUKUS and break those ties with Washington.”
Shoebridge urged the Palestine solidarity movement to link up with the peace movement against the war alliance with the US.
“We bloody well need to change this country. We need to change the leadership of this country. We need to change the politics of this country and we need to disentangle ourselves from any connection with Israel and disconnect ourselves from the United States and and its war plans and make an independent Australia that stands for a peaceful world.
Around 200 people took part in a community picket at Patricks Terminal, Fremantle Port, in Walyalup/Fremantle on October 25, to protest the Maersk company’s economic ties with Israel, reports Riley Breen.
The action was called in support of the Mask off Maersk campaign, initiated by the Palestinian Youth Movement last year. The community picket coincided with a pro-Palestine demonstration, a “pro-testival” in Port Melbourne, protesting weapons manufacturing operations linked to Israel.
United Workers Union member Giacomo Campbell said: “While there is a tentative ceasefire, we need to follow the example of the breakdown of the South African apartheid and boycott and sanction Israel and companies dealing with it until the genocide properly stops and there is self-determination for Palestinians.”
He said Labor is not complying with international law, let alone supplying F35 weapon parts and contracts with Elbit Systems.
Unionists for Palestine WA member Kathryn Lee said unionists and concerned citizens organised the picket because of the lack of leadership.
“We want our unions and community leaders to step up and speak out and take part in a boycott, sanctions and divestment (BDS) campaign, similar to the one implemented to break the South African apartheid system. There should be no trade with Israel until there is justice and freedom for Palestinians, which includes for the war crimes committed by Israel.”
Justice for Palestine organised another two Boycott Caltex actions in Magan-djin/Brisbane on October 25.
Pro-Palestine activists rallied outside Heat Treatment Australia on October 21 to protest weapons parts to Israel.
Police were heavy handed, with at least two protesters were arrested on dubious grounds, such as standing on a driveway without being given a chance to move on.
HTA treats all F-35 jet components made in Australia, which makes the company complicit in Israel’s genocide.
Meanwhile, the Australia government signed another contract with , with parts being flown out on domestic flights. Australian human rights expert Chris Sidoti, who was a member of the , says it violates Australia’s international obligations to prevent genocide.
һƷ̽ organised a forum in Gadigal Country/Sydney on October 25 discussing the role of Colombia and other Latin American countries in opposing Israel's genocide. Colombia President Gustavo Petro has been an outspoken voice for Palestinian sovereignty and ending the genocide.
The meeting was co-hosted by Jews Against the Occupation ’48, Socialist Alliance and Families for Palestine and heard from Chilean solidarity activist Dr Paula Sanchez, Matthew Piggott from Socialist Alliance and a written statement from Colombian activist Daybi Cuesta.
