The Australian Government must do more immediately in relation to increasing state of famine in Gaza.
It is clear that population in Gaza is experiencing dangerous levels of starvation, with the situation becoming worse daily. Famine has taken hold in Gaza.
Thousands of people, including babies and young children, are dying or at risk of dying from hunger.
Recently, 109 aid organisations – including Save the Children and Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders – signed a joint statement that is based from many of these organisations’ on the ground experience. It identifies that:
- There are record rates of acute malnutrition in Gaza;
- Continued control of food and aid such that there is a severe lack of supply to Palestinians;
- There are risks to life of desperate people from attempting to access food at the prescribed locations – as of July 13, the UN confirming 875 deaths of people seeking food; and
- that the crisis is the result of the Israeli government blocking humanitarian organisations from effectively distributing life-saving aid.
The head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said that the starvation is the result of Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Food must be effectively provided to starving populations within Gaza. Immediately.
It is incumbent upon the international community to ensure that a principled, UN-led humanitarian response is given unrestricted capacity to provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Australia is obligated under international law to do all that is necessary and reasonable to bring an end to Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blocking of humanitarian aid.
At a minimum, we call on the Albanese Government to:
- immediately cease military ties with Israel;
- cease all trade, financial and other economic relations with Israel;
- impose sanctions on the officials who have promoted or incited Israel’s actions;
- take action against anyone in Australia who is responsible for international crimes.