Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about Palestine, by sharing some words from Palestinian Australian Dr Samah Sabawi, an award-winning playwright scholar, commentator and poet.

The Australian government failed to condemn Israel, even when, in the first six weeks, almost 15,000 people were killed—over 6,000 children—and these figures are expected to go up drastically if and when Palestinians will be allowed to reach their loved ones, who remain under the rubble, and to count their dead and bury them.

But, despite all of this, Palestinians still cling to hope, because it turns out the world is not as blind as most politicians would have us believe. It turns out humanity is shining gloriously from sea to sea. It turns out that the Palestinian flag has been raised higher, not only here in the settler colony but by millions across the globe. It turns out that our message of justice and freedom resonated from Mexico to Cairo and from New York to every major city. It turns out that people want justice and hope. It turns out that when you silence our voices, our message is amplified by millions. It is sung in sports auditoriums, chanted in rallies and shouted in the halls of power. It turns out that we, the people, have the power, and this is the most precious light we need to hold on to.

There is nothing more moral than resistance to evil and genocide. We have resisted for 75 years and we are not stopping now. Free Palestine.