- by M Santos
- The Guardian
- Issue #2167
Rally for Palestine, Boorloo/Perth. 12 October 2025.
Israel has continued to launch attacks across Lebanon and Syria, while continuing to violently expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. More than 700,000 Zionist settlers live in 150 settlements and 128 outposts – both illegal under international law – across the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.
There can be no lasting peace and stability if Israel continues its occupation and subjugation of Palestinians or if the Palestinian people are not guaranteed control over their territory.
Australia could – and should – show leadership by expelling Israeli diplomats, putting a halt to funding weapons companies such as Elbit, and ending all trade with Israel.
According to official Palestinian figures, more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by settlers and Israeli army soldiers, and over 20,000 Palestinians have been arrested, in the past two years.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said a permanent ceasefire must be secured. “The bloodshed must stop once and for all.”
The UN agency spokesperson also noted that more than 370 UNRWA staff members have been killed over the course of the conflict. “This is the highest death toll in the United Nations since it was first established,” she added.
Hamas and allied Palestinian factions have said clearly that any decision on the future governance of Gaza is “an internal Palestinian matter.”
Emphasising their absolute opposition to the imposition of colonialism, their statement spells it out: “We renew our rejection to any foreign guardianship, and we stress that the nature of the administration of the Gaza Strip and its institutions are an internal Palestinian matter to be determined by the national component of our people directly.”
The groups added that they are working on an “urgent comprehensive national meeting” to discuss next steps after the ceasefire.
Ismail al-Thawabta from the Gaza Government Media Office, issued a list of demands, including ensuring the reconstruction of Gaza.
“We call on the international community, the United Nations and all international legal organisations and the International Court of Justice to punish the leaders of the [Israeli] occupation and to not grant them any legal or political immunity,” al-Thawabta said.
“We call for forming an international, independent commission to investigate the war crimes and genocide and ensure the return and compensation of all displaced people.
“We demand an urgent plan for the comprehensive reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, with Arab and international funding, according to a transparent mechanism that ensures that resources reach civilians.”
al-Thawabta stressed that ending the war of extermination against Palestinians must be real and tangible, not just a formal declaration.
Tens of thousands of people marched across Australia in a day of pro-Palestinian national action on Sunday 12 October, 2025. Millions more took part in actions around the globe as the Gaza ceasefire came into effect.
Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees said that “we’ll absolutely continue to protest for a free Palestine … for self-determination in Gaza, for aid to be allowed in and for Palestinians to be able to rebuild Gaza.”
This latest agreement specifies that within 72 hours of Israel signing on (Friday 10 October) all 48 captives – 20 known to be alive – would be handed over to Israeli security forces. In return Israel would release 250 Palestinian prisoners including 1,700 adults and 22 minors and the bodies of 360 others.
According to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel the 22 minors were only some of the 360 Palestinian minors held in Israeli prisons. Releasees spoke of being held in the most inhumane conditions and tortured by the Israelis.
ILLEGAL OCCUPATION CONTINUES
Israeli Defence Forces pulled back from some of Gaza’s major urban areas but remained in control of roughly half of the enclave’s territory and borders of Gaza, still controlling who enters and exits the territory, a clear pointer that Israel has no intention of leaving the occupied territory.
Hamas has not received any formal written guarantees beyond the hostage release. United States President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan includes the creation of a new international body, the “Board of Peace,” that would be tasked with overseeing an interim authority of technocrats to govern Gaza. It is headed by Trump and includes former British PM and war criminal Tony Blair.
No Palestinians were included in the negotiations around the agreement or at the so-called Peace Summit held on 13 October in Egypt. Its attendees reportedly included US, Middle Eastern and European leaders from 27 countries, and others such as the President of FIFA.
“Gaza’s reconstruction … requires that it be demilitarised,” Trump said, foreshadowing further genocide.
“We make the best weapons in the world, and we’ve got a lot of them, and we’ve given a lot to Israel, frankly,” Trump boasted.
The US has contributed at least US$21 billion (AU$33b) towards the genocide and bombing of neighbouring countries in the past two years.
At the time of writing Israel had threatened to halve the promised aid entering the Strip, claiming Hamas had failed to return all of the deceased Israelis.
THE TOLL SO FAR
- More than 67,000 Palestinians killed
- Around 9,500 people missing
- About 170,000 people injured
- More than 20,000 children killed
- More than 1,000 babies under the age of one killed
- At least 12,500 women killed
- At least 1,670 medics killed
- 254 journalists killed
- 370 UNRWA staff members killed
- 90 per cent of civilian infrastructure destroyed
- Around 200,000 tonnes of explosives dropped on Gaza
