Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are seeing an absolute tragedy in Israel and Gaza. The peace that we value here in this country stands in sharp contrast to the horrors we are seeing being inflicted on civilian populations. I want to thank the Boothby constituents who have reached out to me to share their pain and their fears. So many of the community—Palestinian and Israeli—have family and friends in the region. Your pain strikes my heart. The attack on 7 October was abhorrent, and we have, rightly, condemned the actions of Hamas. I grieve for the innocent civilian Israelis, including children, who were taken hostage or killed. Israel has a right to defend itself. In doing so, it must honour its commitment to uphold international law and protect innocent lives.

The scale of the death and destruction in Gaza is unfathomable. All human life is sacred, and innocent civilians should be protected. I grieve for the innocent civilian Palestinians, including children, who have been killed or injured. I call for all parties to work towards a ceasefire. I want to see an end to the killing of innocent civilians. I want humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. I want to see an enduring two-state solution so that Israelis and Palestinians can live with security. Without an end to the violence, that cannot be achieved.