UN inquiry accuses Israel of the crime of extermination in Gaza

Five-year-old Hind Rajab and her six relatives were killed by the Israeli army in Gaza on 29 January 2024. Using a US-made missile, the Israeli army also shelled the Red Crescent ambulance (pictured) and killed two paramedics sent to rescue the young girl and her extended family. Photo: ABC News.

United Nations investigators have accused Israel of deliberately targeting Gaza’s health facilities and killing medical personnel during its assaults on Gaza.  Continue reading UN inquiry accuses Israel of the crime of extermination in Gaza

Labor Premier Minns and NSW Police fail in bid to ban Free Palestine rallies

Protesters rallied outside the Supreme Court on October 4 where a hearing was underway to stop pro-Palestine rallies in Sydney. Photo: news.com.au

During the week leading up to planned Free Palestine-Free Lebanon rallies on October 6 and 7 in Sydney, both Labor Premier Chris Minns and the NSW Police set out to prevent the protests going ahead.  Continue reading Labor Premier Minns and NSW Police fail in bid to ban Free Palestine rallies

Indonesia, Sierra Leone and Solomon Islands ratify Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

TPNW signature and ratification status as of 24 September 2024. Source: ICAN

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has reported that Indonesia, Sierra Leone and Solomon Islands are the latest countries to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW or Treaty), also known as the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty.  Continue reading Indonesia, Sierra Leone and Solomon Islands ratify Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Blue Mountains War and Peace Forum

L to R: Nic Franklin, Vince Scappatura, Daryl Le Cornu and Kelly Marks.

The Blue Mountains Peace Collective (BMPC) held a public forum entitled War and Peace in the mid Blue Mountains town of Lawson on Sunday, September 15,  2024.1 Continue reading Blue Mountains War and Peace Forum

Marrickville protest calls for sanctions against Israel

Photo: John Janson-Moore

Over a hundred people joined a march organised by Stop the War on Palestine in Marrickville on Saturday 17th August 2024.

Participants initially gathered at Sydenham Station car park at 1.00pm before marching along Marrickville Road to PM Anthony Albanese’s electoral office in Marrickville. Other community groups that joined the march included Teachers and School Staff for Palestine and the Inner West for Palestine group.  Continue reading Marrickville protest calls for sanctions against Israel

Keating, AUKUS and America’s military control of Australia

Source: Sydney Criminal Lawyers

A short article by former prime minister Paul Keating entitled ‘AUKUS servility just one facet of poor governance’, published by Pearls and Irritations on 31st July 2024, refers to the dangerous strategic implications associated with the flawed AUKUS trilateral security pact. Continue reading Keating, AUKUS and America’s military control of Australia

ICJ rules Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful

Photo: New housing projects in the Israeli settlement of Givat Ze’ev in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera / AP

On 19th July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) handed down its ruling in the case formally known as Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East JerusalemContinue reading ICJ rules Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful

Australian Civil Society’s Stand Against Israel’s War on Gaza at the United Nations

Source: 2024 Conference of Civil Society Organisations working on the Question of Palestine / United Nations

The United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (the Committee) held a two-day conference in Geneva, Switzerland from 3-4 April 2024. The conference was entitled “Building Bridges with International Civil Society to Address the Ongoing Nakba”.1    Continue reading Australian Civil Society’s Stand Against Israel’s War on Gaza at the United Nations

NATO: Defence Alliance or War Alliance?

Source: Democracy Now!

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) Washington Summit, held from 9th to 11th July 2024, marked the 75th anniversary of this nuclear armed military alliance which was founded on 4th April 1949 with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington D.C.  Continue reading NATO: Defence Alliance or War Alliance?

Senator Payman resigns from the Labor Party following its refusal to recognise Palestinian statehood

Source: ABC News (Australia)

At a press conference in the Australian Parliament on Thursday 4th July, Senator Fatima Payman announced her resignation from the Labor Party.

Senator Payman’s resignation followed her decision to support a motion by The Greens in the Senate on Tuesday 25th June which referred to “the need for the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine.”  Continue reading Senator Payman resigns from the Labor Party following its refusal to recognise Palestinian statehood

Noam Chomsky, renown philosopher, linguist and advocate of Palestinian rights, discharged from Sao Paulo hospital

Source: Democracy Now!

World renown philosopher, linguist and advocate of Palestinian rights, Noam Chomsky, now 95, was discharged from a hospital in Sao Paulo on 18th June. He will continue with his convalescence after suffering a stroke one year ago. The stroke impacted the right side of his body, as well as his ability to speak.  Continue reading Noam Chomsky, renown philosopher, linguist and advocate of Palestinian rights, discharged from Sao Paulo hospital

Julian Assange lands in Canberra a free man after US plea deal

Source: SBS News – Julian Assange’s lawyers speak outside US court in Saipan

Julian Assange landed in Canberra on a private jet as a free man at 7.30pm on Wednesday 26th June 2024.

As part of a plea agreement negotiated between Assange’s legal team and the US  Department of Justice, Assange was earlier flown to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.  Continue reading Julian Assange lands in Canberra a free man after US plea deal

UNICEF: Israel’s war on Gaza and its devastating impacts on children

Photo:  A father carries his children while trying to flee from air strikes in the city of Rafah. UNICEF/Eyad El Baba, Nov 2023.

In a recent interview on RN Breakfast, James Elder, UNICEF’s global spokesperson, described the devastating impact that Israel’s war on Gaza is having on children.

He reported how a UNICEF convoy carrying nutritional and medical supplies for 10,000 children in northern Gaza was prevented from delivering this humanitarian aid by Israeli authorities.  Continue reading UNICEF: Israel’s war on Gaza and its devastating impacts on children

Oxfam: Famine risk increases as Israel makes Gaza aid response virtually impossible

Photo: The Electronic Intifada – Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza after an Israeli airstrike on 11th May 2024.

In a press release published 3rd June 2024, Oxfam International highlighted aspects of the ongoing horror inflicted on Palestinian civilians, including women and children, by Israel’s relentless ground and air assaults in the Gaza Strip.

The press release opens with the following observations:

Israel’s relentless air and land bombardment and deliberate obstruction of the humanitarian response is making it virtually impossible for aid agencies to reach trapped, starved civilians in Gaza, Oxfam said today, as the latest ceasefire deal negotiations continue.   Continue reading Oxfam: Famine risk increases as Israel makes Gaza aid response virtually impossible