Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This is a petition that has attracted close to 15,000 signatures both here in Australia and worldwide. It's the initiative of my 14-year-old constituent Ammar Mahmoud, who lives in Mickleham in my electorate, and was established on change.org. The petition addresses the ongoing conflict in blockading Gaza, where close to 30,000 innocent civilians have been killed, mostly women and children, and calls for an immediate ceasefire. The petition also calls on the Australian government to lead diplomatic initiatives to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict and an increase in the permanent allocation of humanitarian aid. Young Ammar has been deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza and has been inspired to act, in the form of this petition.

I'd like to quote Ammar Mahmoud, who I spoke to recently, before tabling this petition: 'As a 14-year-old it is both heartbreaking and unimaginable that I find myself in a position where I have to demand my country stop the violence and genocide against children my age and way younger. It is a stark reality that makes us all wonder what has gotten into our human world.' I thank Ammar for his initiative. I know that, on this occasion, on the issue of the situation in Gaza, Ammar speaks for a large proportion of my electorate.

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