Month: December 2023

The Age | Caroline Schelle | 31.12.23 Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Melbourne for the final time this year, vowing to continue gathering in the city until the violence in Gaza ends. They defied drizzly conditions yesterday afternoon to meet on the steps of the State Library for the 12th Free… Continue reading Protesters vow to continue until deaths stop

Military service defines who you are in Israeli society but dissent has a long tradition, despite the -many obstacles The Guardian | Etan Nechin | 30.12.23 Last week, 18-year-old Tal Mitnick was jailed for 30 days for refusing Israel Defense Forces enlistment, becoming the first conscientious objector imprisoned since the Israel-Hamas war began. “I refuse… Continue reading Like Tal Mitnick, I refused to serve Israel as a soldier. It’s important to understand why

IDF bombs urban refugee camps, UN agency warns of famine risk and skirmishes on Lebanon border intensify The Guardian | Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem | Sun 31 Dec 2023 Israeli planes bombed refugee camps in Gaza on Saturday as its troops expanded ground operations and tens of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes, setting the… Continue reading As Gaza death toll mounts, Israelis look in vain for any sign of victory

Canberra Times / AAP | Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Arafat Barbakh and Dan Williams | 31.12.23 Israeli forces have pushed deeper into central and southern Gaza with heavy air and artillery fire, residents said, pressing a deadly offensive that has razed much of the enclave and that Israel has said may last months more. Fighting on… Continue reading Israeli tanks advance deeper into Gaza districts

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mathew 7:12) Known popularly as the Golden Rule, but referred to by James as the Royal Law, Jesus’ famous commandment recalls and restates Rabbi Hillel’s iconic saying: That which is hateful to you, do… Continue reading Salute the Heroes, Part IV: Followers of the Golden Rule  By Jonathan Kuttab and Jesse Wheeler

The Canberra Times/ Aseel Mousa in Gaza https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/hospital-risking-lives-terror-giving-birth-gaza Women such as Hanan face labour at home without medical help or pain relief, with only neighbours and relatives to help When Hanan went into labour earlier this month, she was caught between the pain and fear of facing childbirth without medical help, and the terror of… Continue reading Going to hospital meant risking our lives’: the terror of giving birth in Gaza

The Canberra Times South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice for an urgent order declaring that Israel is in breach of its obligations under the Genocide Convention in its ongoing crackdown against Hamas in Gaza. In the latest development in Israel’s war against Hamas, tens of thousands of newly displaced Gazans sought refuge… Continue reading South Africa seeks ICJ genocide order against Israel

The Age/ Perry Duffin and Rachel Clun https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/hezbollah-claims-rocket-attack-retribution-for-martyred-australians-20231229-p5eu59.html Hezbollah has claimed a missile attack on an Israeli village was retribution for an airstrike that killed Australian brothers – Ali and Ibrahim Bazzi – and Ibrahim’s wife Shorouq Hammoud, among others. The Lebanese militant group and major political party on Friday claimed Ali Bazzi as one… Continue reading Hezbollah claims rocket attack retribution for ‘martyred’ Australians

These 8,000 olivewood hearts represent 8,000 children killed in the Holy Land since October 7th, nearly 7,800 of them living in Gaza. This is the human cost of war and the choice not to end war. This is what 8,000 hearts look like – what do 8,000 children look like? On the Feast of the… Continue reading HOLY INNOCENTS: MOURNING 8,000 CHILDREN KILLED IN HOLY LAND SINCE OCTOBER

Sydney Morning Herald | Jack Jeffery, Samy Magdy and Wafaa Shurafa | 29.12.23 https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-across-gaza-kill-dozens-of-palestinians-even-in-emptied-north-20231229-p5eu41.html Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip: Israeli forces bombarded cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza on Thursday, killing dozens of people in a widening air and ground offensive against Hamas that has forced thousands more to flee from homes and shelters in… Continue reading Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in emptied north