Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst the Hamas leadership and the Israeli Prime Minister fight for military ascendancy and their own political survival, innocent Israeli and Palestinian people are dying. Since 7 October last year, it has been reported that over 32,200 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed and over 74,500 have been injured. Around 1,200 Israelis have been killed, and 100-plus are still being held hostage and should be immediately released. Eighty-five per cent of the Palestinian people have been displaced and left with no home, no food and water and a critical shortage of medical supplies because of the Israeli's five-month-long bombardment of Palestinian territory and obstruction of global aid efforts.

Sadly, whilst much of the world looks away with indifference and argues about the definitions of genocide and apartheid, or the wording of UN resolutions, defenceless, innocent people continue to die. The killing of innocent civilians can never be justified. World opinion is turning against Israel, and calls for an immediate, sustained ceasefire and an end to the humanitarian aid blockades have grown louder. I again join those calls. All lives matter, and the continued Israeli incursion into Palestinian territory will not create lasting peace but will cause long-term suffering and insecurity for all.