Published: 27 October 2023
Last updated: 6 September 2024
The Australian human rights group has led a statement signed by 100 groups that omits Hamas’ massacres; Yuval Harari ‘devastated’ at global left-wing indifference.
Amnesty International Australia is the lead signatory to a Civil Society Statement of Solidarity with Gaza, signed by almost 100 Australian groups, which fails to mention Hamas’s massacres or the hostages it has taken. The statement also accuses Israel of targeting Gaza civilians.
The statement, dated October 19, was signed by organisations including the Human Rights Law Centre, the Australian Centre for International Justice, the NSW Teachers Federation, The Sydney Peace Foundation, NSW Council for Civil Liberties, Australian Council for International Development, Anglican Overseas Aid, Mary MacKillop Today, Rail, Tram & Bus Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Jews Against the Occupation, Jews against Fascism and more than 40 Australian pro-Palestinian and Muslim organisations.
The statement starts as follows: "We express our concern about all violations of international law. We mourn the killing of civilians, Palestinian and Israeli.”
This generalised introduction is the only reference to Israelis who have died. There is no mention of Hamas, the massacres it committed that provoked Israel’s retaliation, nor of the 200-plus hostages taken by Hamas.
The statement continues: "Under international humanitarian law (the laws of war) parties to a conflict have a clear obligation to protect the lives of civilians. Israel's attacks on Gaza as well as their complete blockade of Gaza are clearly in breach of international law.
"It is civilians who are paying the heaviest price in this war. It is civilians who always pay the heaviest price in war. Already, thousands of civilians have died.
"The Israeli Government’s cutting off of water, food, fuel, and electricity to Gaza amounts to collective punishment, and is a war crime. It is cruel and inhumane.
