Amid the escalating violence in Gaza, the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) has again called on state and federal governments to cut all military ties and to apply sanctions to Israel, as it did after Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine.
Sarah Schwartz, human rights lawyer and JCA Executive, said on April 2 that images of Israel鈥檚 destruction of Gaza鈥檚 Al-Shifa Hospital, together with the killing of aid workers, including Lalzawmi 鈥淶omi鈥 Frankcom from Australia 鈥渙ught to force governments like ours to take concrete action鈥.
Schwartz said the world cannot ignore 鈥渟uch horrific cruelty鈥.
鈥淎ustralia must end its role in supplying weapons parts to Israel, and throw its weight behind a global arms embargo.鈥
Dr Max Kaiser, historian and JCA Executive Officer, said it has become clearer for many that 鈥淚srael is a rogue state鈥.
鈥淲e say this as part of a large and growing number of Jews 鈥斅爄n Australia and around the world 鈥斅爓ho have been calling for a ceasefire for many months.鈥
Opposition to Israel鈥檚 genocide 鈥渋s an expression of our Jewishness鈥, Kaiser said.
It is also an 鈥渉onouring of our ancestors who were themselves the victims of genocide and racist violence鈥.
JCA said the dire situation in Gaza 鈥渋n particular the spread of starvation due to Israel鈥檚 blockade of aid鈥, means the Labor government must 鈥渄o everything in its power to stop Israel committing the crime of genocide鈥.
The International Court of Justice鈥檚 (ICJ) March 28 ruling, in the case bought by South Africa against Israel for violating the Genocide Convention, ordered additional provisional measures which all countries that are signatories to the convention must observe.
That ruling called for 鈥渁ll available forms of diplomatic pressure, including sanctions and travel bans on extremist settlers and those suspected of war crimes鈥 to be used.
JCA said聽this also applies to Australia.
Frankcom, an Australian aid worker, was among several international and one Palestinian worker killed by on April 2.
The World Central Kitchen, their employer, said the vehicles were and had been coordinating with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
, author and associate professor, asked on X why after the survivors from the first truck attack went to a second vehicle it was also attacked. The survivors then went to a third vehicle that was also attacked.
鈥淭hese multiple strikes were done on three different vehicles the IDF knew to belong to aid workers,鈥 . He questioned whether this meant that IDF protocol is to destroy all vehicles in a convoy if they see any survivors.
The IDF claims that a Hamas soldier was hiding among the aid workers. Jones said if that was the case, and it knew this, why did it not wait until the alleged Hamas soldier left the vehicle before firing on it?
鈥淭his implies the IDF protocol is to destroy all vehicles in a convoy if they see any survivors?鈥
Jones said the world now knows this is 鈥渉ow Israel operates鈥.
He said the Hamas 鈥渙perative鈥 is likely to be 鈥渁 cover story to hide a deliberate targeted attack on @WCKitchen鈥.
JCA said the ICJ鈥檚 order on Israel is to 鈥淸t]ake all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay鈥 the 鈥渦nhindered provision at scale鈥 of basic services and humanitarian aid 鈥 including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, and medical supplies and care to the people of Gaza.
JCA emphasised that 鈥渢his order has legal implications for Australia鈥.
It means Australia 鈥渕ust comply with its obligations under the Genocide Convention by taking all reasonable measures to ensure Israel allows aid into Gaza and to achieve an immediate ceasefire鈥.
Schwartz said the ICJ鈥檚 additional provisional orders 鈥渁re a clear sign that the situation in Gaza has drastically deteriorated鈥.
鈥淚srael will not listen to the international community until there are consequences for its actions鈥, he said.
Australia has the 鈥渘ecessary tools鈥, including sanctions and travel bans on suspected war criminals 鈥渨hich it has deployed against Russia.
鈥淎ll that is missing鈥, he said, 鈥渋s the political will鈥.