Statement on the Israel-Gaza Conflict
Like many others, I have watched the Gaza conflict and have been horrified by the escalating violence and death toll.
I have watched as hospitals have been destroyed, places of worship turned to rubble, with the stories, lives, and livelihoods of those impacted being lost forever.
I have watched as the situation facing people in Gaza grew increasingly dire, as millions of people faced food insecurity, with food shortages exceeding famine levels, and as mass deaths became imminent.
All of these things, I have watched.
I have watched and been frozen. Frozen by my own trauma, by the scale of the horror, by the hope that things would change, by the complexity, by a fear that saying the wrong thing may cause additional trauma or inflame an already volatile situation, and mostly, by a sense that I had no place to speak up.
This latest escalation is part of a decades-long conflict that I have no authority to remark on, nor am I a member of the federal parliament, able to direct or to immediately impact the decisions of Australia on matters of international aid or on defence.
What I do understand, more than many, is the impacts of violence and death. I understand the generational trauma they bring, the destruction, the hatred, and the poverty.
What I recognise is that I, like all Australians, have a voice.
I condemn the tens of thousands of deaths on all sides, not just since 7 October 2023, but all of those since the conflict began over seventy years ago. The deaths of civilians, of journalists, and of humanitarian workers in particular reflect the unacceptable toll that conflict brings. Those deaths remind us of the urgency of peace, and the important role that allied countries can play in those careful negotiations.
I add my voice to the many others urging all parties to adhere to the International Court of Justice’s order to take immediate steps to prevent acts of genocide, to punish incitement to genocide, to facilitate the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, and to immediately provide food and essential services to people in Gaza by ensuring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
I call for an urgent and permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages and political prisoners in the short term, and for a permanent two-state solution.
I welcome the Australian Government reinstating funding to UNRWA, appointing a special advisor to assess the IDF investigation of the killing of Australian Zomi Frankcom, and on continuing the call for a two-state solution.
I call on the Australian Government to take immediate steps to secure peace by:
Using all influence, pressure, and diplomatic measures to achieve a permanent ceasefire.
Examine its responsibilities under international law, to deny any exports that could or would likely be used to violate humanitarian law.
Enacting targeted sanctions on officials, both military and civilian, who have called for the denial of aid, including food and materials, to civilians in Gaza.
Commit additional funding in humanitarian assistance to Gaza and to the West Bank to prevent the imminent outbreak of famine.
I join others’ calls for an end to the occupation of internationally recognised Palestinian territories, and for a just and sustainable peace in accordance with previous United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The Australian Labor Party platform supports the recognition and right of both Israel and Palestine to exist as two states within secure and recognised borders, and further calls on the Australian Government to recognise Palestine as a state.
I recognise the rank-and-file members of the Australian Labor Party who, alongside Labor’s Friends of Equity group, have advocated for many years for this position.
I have spoken with constituents who are directly impacted, including those from both Palestinian and Jewish communities. It is clear that this conflict has taken an incredible toll on many domestically, and I assure those constituents impacted that I will always work in a manner that encourages diplomacy, respect, understanding and safety for all.
Australia must do everything in its power to bring about a just outcome through dialogue and respect for international law and for human rights.
Jonty Bush MP
Member for Cooper