- by Peter Farmer
- The Guardian
- Issue #2142
Demonstrations in support of Palestine have kicked off again in Australian cities. Communist Party members are turning out in support of Palestine and in protest against the occupation, Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinian people, and the system of apartheid which goes back a long way before the 7 October 2023 attack. In fact, it goes back all the way to the first Nakba in 1947-49, when Israel instigated the removal of Palestinians from their own homes and villages.
The renewed demonstrations in Melbourne and Sydney had a huge turnout. As usual, an array of progressive forces turned out, including Jews Against Occupation.
There are good reasons for the renewed marching.
ISRAEL ATTACKS
Israeli bombardments have killed at least 17 Palestinians in Gaza in a recent attack, hospital workers said, hours after Hamas formally rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposals.
Amongst the dead were 10 Palestinians who had been sheltering in Jabaliya refugee camp, including eight from the same household, according to the Indonesian hospital, which received the bodies.
Seven more were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis including a pregnant woman, according to the Nasser hospital, where the bodies were brought.
Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory.
Israel has said it plans to occupy large “security zones” inside Gaza.
Hamas negotiating delegation leader Khalil al-Hayya said the group had rejected Israel’s latest proposal along those lines.
He reiterated Hamas’s stance that it will return hostages only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in a now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached in January.
Hamas holds 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Officials from Hamas had indicated earlier in the week that they were likely to reject Israel’s plan.
Hayya said the far-right Israeli coalition government “use partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation, even if the price is sacrificing all hostages.”
He added that Hamas was “ready to immediately negotiate a deal to swap all hostages with an agreed number of Palestinians jailed by Israel” and end the war.
After Tel Aviv’s plan was rejected Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said it was time “to open the gates of hell” on Hamas.
DISPLACING FAMILIES
Israeli occupation forces have also carried out demolitions in the Abu Hindi area of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, citing the absence of Israeli-issued building permits. The move, which involved multiple facilities supporting local livelihoods, has sparked concerns over its impact on residents.
Among the demolished structures was a stable that housed over 30 horses and served as a source of income for three families. Several sheds and fences were also dismantled during the operation, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.
Additionally, authorities issued a demolition notice against a vehicle wash facility in the same area, giving the owner 48 hours to tear it down voluntarily or face forced demolition accompanied by heavy fines.
These demolitions come amidst growing criticism of Israeli policies in occupied territories, where local communities frequently face displacement and economic hardship due to restrictive building regulations. The incident further highlights the ongoing tensions in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas, with families left vulnerable and livelihoods disrupted.
STARVATION AS A WEAPON
Aid groups have raised the alarm over Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks.
Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the UN said.
But Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz was adamant that the blockade is a “central pressure tactic” against Hamas, which Israel accuses, without evidence, of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule.
Aid workers deny there is significant diversion of aid, saying the UN closely monitors distribution.
Rights groups have accused Israel of engaging in a “starvation tactic.”
CLOSE TO HOME
So why should Australians demonstrate about a conflict so far away?
Reason one: we dislike mass murder. What Israel is doing to Palestinians is often described as ‘complex’ by people who don’t want any protests here. In fact it’s simple, Israel is killing a lot of men, women, and children.
Reason two: we are involved. Parts for the F35 fighter-bombers Israel uses to bomb Gaza and Lebanon are made here. Australian arms company EOS has demonstrated a “lethal and effective” anti-drone system in Israel. Australia also supports Israel though generous contracts given to Israeli military company Elbit Systems. Elbit software was stripped from Army IT systems in 2021 due to security concerns, but the company scored contracts worth 917 million in 2024.
Australia has made feeble noises of disapproval of the mass killing, but it could do so much more. This country could stop the manufacture of any weapons components that will be used by Israel. It could end contracts with Israeli weapons countries. It could directly and clearly condemn the mass murder and ethnic cleansing that Israel is engaging in right now.
To get anywhere near these necessary measures, there will have to be a lot of pressure to overcome the timidity of the Australian government. We need to be on the streets when the demonstrations are on.
As CPA President Vinnie Molina says (see page 11, this issue) the media in Australia plays a large part. Too many people think that the ‘conflict’ is between two equal groups. Too many people think that opposing Israel’s genocidal attacks is the same as supporting terrorism. People don’t believe these falsehoods because they’re stupid, there is a concerted media campaign to ‘both-sides’ the conflict and demonise Palestinians.
That’s harder to fight, but there are a lot of people up for the fight.
Write to your papers. Call up talkback. If you can, be there at the next demonstration.
As the Party banners say: Palestine will win!
Israel calls 15 assassinations ‘errors’
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), blatantly acknowledged “operational misunderstandings” and “errors” in the killing by Israeli fire of 15 paramedics, rescuers and UN personnel in Gaza on 23 March.
In a summary of the military investigation into what happened that day in the southern town of Ráfah, the findings of which will be forwarded to the Israeli Public Prosecutor’s Office, it is explained that there were several Israeli shootings against the ambulance convoy, the fire truck and UN vehicle that were attacked, in which members of the Gaza Red Crescent and Civil Defence were travelling.
The report investigates two shootings by Israeli troops in Gaza: the first, allegedly against vehicles of the resistance movement to the Zionist occupation, Hamas, and the second, an hour later, against ambulances and a fire truck that came to the scene.
The sub-commander who ordered the attack justified the second shooting by perceiving an “immediate threat” by the rapid approach and descent of people from medical vehicles near his troops.
The sub-commander maintains his version that the vehicles belonged to Hamas even though they were properly marked as equipment for health workers with their respective emergency lights.
“In the face of this impression and sense of threat, he ordered to open fire,” he says, and accuses the “poor night visibility” of not initially recognising the vehicles as ambulances.” Only later, after approaching them and examining them, it was discovered that they were indeed rescue teams,” the report says.
A third attack took place 15 minutes later, when a UN vehicle arrived and was also shot at. One of the dead that day was a UN member. The investigation said that this third incident involved a “violation of orders during combat.”
On the handling of the bodies and vehicles after the deadly attack revealed that, while the removal and covering of the bodies was considered reasonable, the shredding of the vehicles was a mistake.
The bodies could not be rescued from the site by the affected organisms until a week later, when they were found buried in sand and next to destroyed vehicles.
The IDF dismissed the Deputy Commander of the 14th Brigade of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion because of his responsibilities as field commander in an unspecified incident and for providing an “incomplete and inaccurate” report. The dismissal occurred after it was revealed that initial information provided by the military on the ground about the incident was erroneous, contradicting evidence from a video recorded at the site.
Telesur
