Gaza protesters gather at Parliament House

Yahoo

4 days ago

A crowd protesting the killing of children in Gaza has gathered outside Parliament House as MPs and senators return for the first sitting fortnight since the federal election.
The protesters are holding what appear to be shrouded baby dolls as they wave Palestinian flags and placards calling on the Albanese government to 'sanction Israel now'.
'28 children killed daily in Gaza,' another placard read.
The demonstration is at the back entrance to Parliament House, where Anthony Albanese and his son, Nathan, had walked up just a day earlier.
The Prime Minister will also need to pass them on his way in to open parliament.
Tuesday's protest comes after Australia joined 25 other countries in calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, lashing Israel for 'the drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians'.
Foreign journalists are not allowed into the war-torn Palestinian territory, leaving media to rely on death toll figures put out by the Hamas-run health ministry.
According to figures from the ministry, more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 21-month conflict – a count that stacks up with independent monitors and international aid workers, who have said children are suffering the most.
In a joint statement issued overnight, Australia stood with the likes of Canada, New Zealand and the UK demanding that 'the war in Gaza must end now'.
'The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths,' the statement said.
'The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity.
'We condemn the drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.
'It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.'
The countries went on to say Israel's 'denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable'.
'Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law,' the statement said.
'Disappointing'
In brief remarks to reporters on Tuesday morning, Sussan Ley seemed to take a different view, saying it is 'very important that we understand where this conflict started and who has the opportunity and responsibility for ending it'.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas' brutal October 7 terrorist attacks in 2023.
Hundreds were taken hostage as the Islamist militant group retreated after slaughtering whole families in rural areas and carrying out a massacre at music festival.
'The first and most important thing to say about this issue is that there are still hostages in Gaza,' the Opposition Leader said.
'There are still hostages in tunnels, and a way to end the situation is for those hostages to be released by the terrorists Hamas, who control so much of the activity there.
'Of course, we want to see aid reach those who deserve it, but it is so important that Hamas that has control, often over the flow of that aid, but certainly over the ongoing completely unacceptable detention of those hostages act in the interests of the people of Gaza.'
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash used stronger terms.
'It is disappointing that once again the Albanese government is supporting a statement attacking Israel,' she posted on social media.
'First and foremost any moral outrage about the situation in Gaza should be directed at Hamas.
'Hamas could end the suffering of the people of Gaza by freeing the remaining Israeli hostages and laying down their weapons.
'This war began because of Hamas's abhorrent attack on Israeli civilians.'
She said it is 'important that aid flows into Gaza' and that enough 'quantities of food and other aid must be provided to the people'.
'However, the right system must be in place so that it can be distributed without Hamas intervening in the process,' Senator Cash said.
The Israeli government has rejected the joint statement, saying it is 'disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas'.
'All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it,' the Israeli foreign ministry.
'Instead of agreeing to a ceasefire, Hamas is busy running a campaign to spread lies about Israel.
'At the same time, Hamas is deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid.'
Hamas militants killed more than 1200 people in the October 7 assault and took hundreds more hostage, including children.
It was the single worst mass killing of Jews since the Holocaust.
Many hostages have been released and rescued, while others have died in Hamas' hands.
At least 50 remain in captivity.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar took aim at the countries that issued the statement, saying the fact Hamas embraced their words 'is the best proof' they made a mistake.
'If Hamas embraces you – you are in the wrong place,' he posted on social media.
'Hamas's praise for the statement by the group of countries is the best proof of the mistake they made – part of them out of good intentions and part of them out of an obsession against Israel.
'We are at a very sensitive moment in the negotiations for the release of hostages and a ceasefire.'