October 5, 2024
October 7 marks one year since the Hamas attacks which led to the killing of over 1,000 people in Israel. This week also marks the start of Israel’s genocidal war, which has led to the mass destruction of Palestinian life in Gaza.
One year on, countless Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces and around 2 million displaced. Israel’s devastation of Gaza’s healthcare system means that the official death toll of 42,000 is likely to be far higher. Palestinians in the West Bank are being subjected to escalating levels of state-sanctioned, settler-led violence. Israel has turned its aggression towards the people of Lebanon and Syria, killing thousands of civilians and displacing over 1 million. Last week, Iran launched 200 missiles into Israel. There appears to be no viable path towards a ceasefire and a regional war threatens to spiral out of control.
On October 7, 251 people in Israel were taken hostage. Most of them still remain in Gaza, and many of their families are angry at the Israeli government for choosing to continue and escalate its assault rather than reach a deal which would see the hostages’ return.
Almost 10,000 Palestinians, including children, are held as prisoners in brutal conditions in Israeli military prisons.
Emboldened by the far-right government, Israel’s messianic right-wing talks about expanding the country’s borders into Lebanon, Syria and beyond.
Israel’s actions and ongoing campaigns of violence against Palestinians, which started well before October 7, only serve to make all people in the region unsafe. As some families of the hostages put it, “Netanyahu is dragging the region into all out war, for his own personal motives. Hostages and residents on all sides of all borders be damned.”
At this time, we renew our call for an urgent, immediate, and permanent ceasefire, a deal which would see the release of all hostages – Palestinian and Israeli – an end to Israel’s impunity and aggression, and a solution that sees freedom, justice and equality for Palestinians and Israelis from the river to the sea.
Dr Max Kaiser, Executive Officer
Israel’s escalating campaign of violence will continue if world leaders do little more than express words of condemnation and concern. Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, and ongoing breaches of international law, are a clear sign that the Netanyahu government is empowered by the complicity of Western governments. One year on, it is past time for the Australian government to step up and take material action, joining with other countries to pressure Israel to comply with international law.
The anti-war protests this weekend are in no way, shape or form ‘anti-Jewish protests’ as alleged by Peter Dutton. The suggestion that protests in support of Palestinian human rights are anti-Jewish encourages racism and division. Criticism of the State of Israel is not antisemitism. Jews and Palestinians refuse to be made into enemies by racist politicians.
Sarah Schwartz, Executive Officer
We urge politicians not to weaponise the memory of the victims of October 7 to justify support for Israel’s aggression or to silence voices in support of Palestinian human rights. We join with many families of the victims in opposing the use of their memory to justify killing other civilians in Palestine.
Israel’s ongoing war crimes have not only killed, maimed and displaced countless Palestinian and Lebanese civilians, they make all people in the region unsafe, including Israelis. Israel cannot bomb its way to peace. Peace and security will only come through a solution that sees freedom, justice and equality for all people - Palestinians and Israelis - from the river to the sea.
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