History will condemn Labor’s backing of a massive humanitarian catastrophe, the Greens say, after the government voted with the opposition to double down on its support of the State of Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
The vote occurred as the death toll in Palestine climbs towards 30,000 people, millions of Palestinians are displaced and facing starvation, dehydration and death from disease, and Israeli troops turn their sights on the city of Rafah.
The International Court of Justice has said there is a plausible basis to claims of genocide, commencing an investigation that the Australian Government has also refused to support.
As stated by Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens:
“As the death toll rises and civilians are slaughtered, it is unforgivable that Labor continues to back the invasion of Gaza,” Mr Bandt said.
“Even after 27,000 deaths, widespread humanitarian catastrophe and orders from the International Court of Justice to prevent genocide, Labor has doubled down on its backing of Israel’s invasion of Gaza.”
“International pressure is crucial to securing a permanent ceasefire, but Labor keeps backing the invasion.
“Labor should join the growing global push for a permanent ceasefire, the release of the hostages and an end to the occupation of Palestine.”
As stated by Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Peace:
“There is no room for equivocating on the crime of genocide. Labor is trying to present this as complicated – there is nothing morally complex about opposing an invasion which has killed tens of thousands of innocent people,” Senator Steele-John said.
“Now that the International Court of Justice believes there is a plausible basis to claims of genocide in Gaza, ignorance is not an excuse. Continued silence as the death toll mounts and evidence of genocide builds amounts to complicity in what is going on in Gaza.
“Every day, we see horrifying new evidence of what the State of Israel’s invasion means: mass graves, schools and hospitals turned into rubble, all backed by Israeli officials using genocidal language.
“Labor has abandoned everyone in the community who are pushing for a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages and an end to the occupation of Palestine.
