Category Archives: Israel & Occupied Territories

UN General Assembly supports symbolic move to allow Palestine full membership

Israel & Occupied Territories, United Nations

Video source: Politico

On Friday 10th May 2024, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution which upgrades Palestine’s rights and privileges as an Observer State and calls on the UN Security Council to favourably reconsider Palestine’s request for full membership.

The 193-member General Assembly approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by 143 votes for, 9 against (including the United States and Israel) and 25 abstentions. Australia decided to join the vast majority of member states by voting in favour of this resolution.1 Continue reading UN General Assembly supports symbolic move to allow Palestine full membership →

World Central Kitchen wants independent probe into Israeli attack on aid convoy

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , ,
Photo: The Hill – WCK staff killed by Israeli drone in Gaza. Top left to right: Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom of Australia, Damian Soból of Poland, and Jacob Flickinger of the U.S. and Canada. Bottom left to right: John Chapman of Britain, James Henderson of Britain and James Kirby of Britain.

  News services have reported that during the night of Monday 1st April 2024, an Israeli airstrike killed six international aid workers and a Palestinian driver in central Gaza.

Those killed included Melbourne-born Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, aged 43. Of the other victims, one was from Poland, three were from United Kingdom, and another was a US-Canada citizen. Continue reading World Central Kitchen wants independent probe into Israeli attack on aid convoy →

“US airdrops into the Gaza Strip are pure theatre”

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes,

Al Jazeera English’s Listening Post: ‘”Who is the superpower? The US or Israel?” The absurdity of airdrops in Gaza.’

You’ve seen the images in the media coverage: the US air dropping aid into northern Gaza to feed hungry Palestinians. Headline news but also a textbook case of cognitive dissonance on Washington’s part – dropping food while continuing to provide Israel with bombs to pulverise Gaza.  Continue reading “US airdrops into the Gaza Strip are pure theatre” →

Sit-in continues outside PM Albanese’s electoral office in Marrickville

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , ,

A makeshift sit-in outside PM Anthony Albanese’s electoral office in Marrickville, has become a 24/7 protest action.

A visit to the sit-in on 6th March, found participants sitting on chairs with leaflets in hand, surrounded by placards and banners demanding an end to Israel’s genocide and 17-year-long illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip. Continue reading Sit-in continues outside PM Albanese’s electoral office in Marrickville →

Katoomba rally calls for an end to Israel’s war crimes in Gaza

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , ,

On Saturday 2nd March, over 100 people gathered in Katoomba to rally against Israel’s war on Gaza.  Organised by the community action group, Mountains for Palestine, participants heard from a number of speakers covering various aspects of the conflict, as well as recent local actions aimed at protecting Palestinian life and rights in Gaza.

Proceedings began with the rally co-ordinator, Aaisha, providing an acknowledgment of country.

Minute’s silence

A minute’s silence was then held. As a preamble, Jenna from Mountains for Palestine explained that a minute’s silence was being observed “for all martyrs lost due to Israel’s occupation and genocide in Palestine.” Continue reading Katoomba rally calls for an end to Israel’s war crimes in Gaza →

Israel’s war on Gaza leading to catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , ,
Photo: RN Breakfast – Getty Images

In an interview on 29th February 2024, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, provided a graphic account of how Israel’s war on Gaza is leading to catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation.

This interview follows a briefing on 27th February 2024 to the UN Security Council on food insecurity in Gaza. At this briefing, senior UN humanitarian officials warned that well over half a million Gazans are just a step away from famine. They warned that famine is “almost inevitable” unless aid can be scaled up immediately. Continue reading Israel’s war on Gaza leading to catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation →

Survey finds 80 per cent of Australians support ceasefire in Gaza

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, ,

A  survey commissioned by a coalition of humanitarian aid agencies has shown that more than 80% of Australians are in favor of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

In an ABC News interview on 27th February 2024, Lyn Morgain, Oxfam’s CEO, emphasised that the survey results showed that the Australian community wants the Albanese  government to do more to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.  Continue reading Survey finds 80 per cent of Australians support ceasefire in Gaza →

Israel’s violation of the Genocide Convention continues unabated

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, ,

Photo: Destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, Al Jazeera

On 26th January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an interim order in response to South Africa’s application, lodged on 29th December 2023, alleging violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The order handed down contained six provisional measures.  The first of these measures stated: Continue reading Israel’s violation of the Genocide Convention continues unabated →

The Labor government must immediately resume its funding of UNRWA

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , , ,

On 26th January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) handed down its report on South Africa’s allegation that Israel had committed genocidal acts in its war on Gaza. The ICJ found that South Africa’s claim had plausibility. The ICJ also found that Palestinians in Gaza were facing a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of Israel’s massive air and land assaults on the besieged enclave since 7th October 2023.

Accordingly, the ICJ’s interim order required Israel to comply with the 1948 Genocide Convention, permit the resumption of adequate supplies of humanitarian aid into Gaza and act against those who were propagating genocidal statements.

Israel’s allegations

Coinciding with the release of the ICJ’s interim order and summary report, Israeli authorities made public its allegation that several UNRWA employees – a total of 12 in number – had been involved in some form with Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on 7th October 2023. No evidence regarding these allegations was publicly forthcoming. Continue reading The Labor government must immediately resume its funding of UNRWA →

IPAN’s Open Letter to Prime Minister Albanese on Gaza – Invitation to sign – Feb 2024

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , ,

The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) released this open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on 1st February 2024.

It urges the Albanese government to reverse its decision to suspend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the primary aid agency supplying humanitarian assistance to the 2.3 million Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip.

The open letter is reproduced below: Continue reading IPAN’s Open Letter to Prime Minister Albanese on Gaza – Invitation to sign – Feb 2024 →

ICJ issues interim ruling in South Africa’s case against Israel for violations of the Genocide Convention

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes,
Photo: Amnesty International – International Court of Justice – Click to enlarge

Following public hearings held on 11th and 12th January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its order relating to the ‘Request for the indication of provisional measures’ by South Africa in the case concerning its Application on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

The International Court of Justice’s order which is immediately binding on Israel, contained six provisional measures. This compares to South Africa’s request for the ICJ to support nine provisional measures. Continue reading ICJ issues interim ruling in South Africa’s case against Israel for violations of the Genocide Convention →

South Africa presents case to ICJ on Israel’s genocide in Gaza

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , ,


ICJ hearing: Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC for South Africa. Press button to watch video..

On 28th December 2023, South Africa submitted an application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The application accuses Israel of crimes of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in breach of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (‘Genocide Convention’ or ‘Convention’).1

In its 84 page application, South Africa described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”. Continue reading South Africa presents case to ICJ on Israel’s genocide in Gaza →

Blue Mountains rally calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza – 10th Dec 2023

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , , , , ,
Photo: Blue Mountains Friends of Palestine rally in Katoomba 10th Dec 2023

Numerous rallies around the country on Human Rights Day condemned Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip and renewed the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

One of these rallies on 10th December 2023 was organised by the Blue Mountains Friends of Palestine (BMFoP) that took place in Katoomba. The event attracted around 80 people who initially assembled at the town’s old library site and later marched a short distance to Carrington Park. Continue reading Blue Mountains rally calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza – 10th Dec 2023 →

Sydney rally calls for an immediate cessation to Israel’s war on Gaza – 26th Nov 2023

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, , ,
Photo: Assala Sayara, Hyde Park, Sydney, 26th Nov 2023. Click to enlarge.

Many thousands gathered in Hyde Park, Sydney on Sunday 26th November to express their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza that have suffered from Israel’s blockade, airstrikes and ground assaults since the attacks by Hamas on 7th October 2023.

At the time of the negotiated “pause” in Israel’s war on Gaza, the reported Palestinian death toll had exceeded 14,000, with 10,000 of these deaths comprising women and children. Continue reading Sydney rally calls for an immediate cessation to Israel’s war on Gaza – 26th Nov 2023 →

Gaza is ‘running out of time’ UN experts warn, demanding a ceasefire to prevent genocide

Israel & Occupied Territories, War Crimes, ,

In a statement issued on 2nd November 2023, seven UN Special Rapporteurs warned that time is running out to prevent genocide in Gaza and expressed deep frustration with Israel’s refusal to halt plans to decimate the besieged Gaza strip.

“We remain convinced that the Palestinian people are at grave risk of genocide,” the experts said. “The time for action is now. Israel’s allies also bear responsibility and must act now to prevent its disastrous course of action,” they said.

The experts expressed “deepening horror” about Israeli airstrikes against the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza since the night of Tuesday 31st October, which have reportedly killed and injured hundreds of Palestinians, calling it a brazen breach of international law.

The full statement by the Special Rapporteurs can be read here.