Sally Sitou (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As we watch the horrors unfold abroad, we all grieve for the innocent Israelis and innocent Palestinians who have lost their lives. Conflict anywhere in the world is deeply distressing; it is all the more tragic when you see the killing and maiming of innocent civilians. We ought to speak up and condemn atrocities committed against innocent civilians, regardless of the history of the land or the faith of its people.

While the tensions in Israel and Palestine have lasted decades, the genesis of this most recent escalation is with the horrific attacks from Hamas terrorists. They committed mass murder on a scale so large and indiscriminate it can only be described as pure evil. Young people at a music festival, Holocaust survivors, Jewish families and young children—innocent lives brutally taken by a terrorist organisation. And now Hamas has taken Israelis as hostages—a cruel bargaining chip. My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones. They are innocent Palestinians and innocent Israelis who have been caught up in this conflict. For those families who have had loved ones taken hostage, the anxiety, fear and pain must be terrible. We unequivocally condemn these horrific acts committed by Hamas and call for the immediate release of all hostages. The actions of Hamas were not in the interests of Palestinians and will not advance the cause for a two-state solution. Innocent Israelis and innocent Palestinians are the victims in this conflict, and they have paid such a heavy price.

While the genesis of this recent conflict was an act of pure evil by Hamas, the Israeli government cannot allow evil to beget evil. Israel has a right to defend itself, and, given the evil nature of these terrorist attacks and the subsequent hostage-taking, it is understandable that Israel seeks justice for its people. But that right should not extend to the indiscriminate killing of innocent Palestinians. The mass punishment of innocent civilians in Gaza cannot be a proportionate response to the murderous attacks on civilians by Hamas. We call for the protection of civilian lives and the observance of international law because all innocent life lost is a tragedy.

From speaking to members of my community, their overwhelming concern is for the innocent Palestinians trapped in Gaza and the innocent Israelis taken hostage. As we call for the immediate release of Israeli hostages, we also call for those trapped in Gaza to have immediate access to basic necessities and for humanitarian aid to be allowed through via the establishment of a humanitarian corridor. Australia is providing $10 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza. Three million dollars will go to the International Committee of the Red Cross to fund the most pressing needs, like restoring essential services and providing medical support. Seven million dollars will go to UN agencies to deliver critical support, including emergency water, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene services, as well as child protection.

Australian consular officials here and overseas have been working tirelessly to get Australians out of the region. More than 1,500 previously registered Australians have now left Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. That's 1,500 Australians who are now safe. Their safety and the safety of all innocent civilians must be prioritised.

I've been in touch with members of the Muslim and Jewish communities. Both communities are hurting deeply, both communities feel the tremendous burden of these events and both communities acknowledge the fundamental importance of maintaining respect for each other, as people, validly, express their views. But, let me be clear, there is no room for Islamophobia in Australia; there is no room for antisemitism in Australia. Hateful prejudice against any group has no place in this country. When we see the turbulence of events overseas, we have to realise that our cohesive multilingual, multicultural and multifaith society is our most prized and fragile asset. As Mike Burgess, the director-general of ASIO, has made clear, everyone in our community, most of all our leaders, has a responsibility to use measured and responsible language. These are wise words that bear repeating.

The guiding principle for us in this decades-long conflict has been the pursuit of peace and progress towards a just and enduring two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians alike can live safely and freely within secure borders. There is no doubt that Hamas's attacks have put that further out of reach, but we must always continue to strive for a just and peaceful resolution in a way that protects all civilian lives and conforms to international law.

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