Author: mark

The Australian / AFP | 20 January 2024 Madrid: Israel has broken international law with its “relentless” bombing of Gaza that has levelled neighbourhoods and killed thousands of Palestinians, a UN rights expert said on Thursday. The comments by Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer who is the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, came… Continue reading ‘Relentless Bombings’ Are War Crimes, Says UN Expert

Canberra Times | Peter Greste | 20 January 2024 Israel has emerged as one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists, according to a newly released census compiled by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Each year, the committee releases a snapshot of the number of journalists behind bars as of December 1, 2023… Continue reading Israel among world’s leading jailers of journalists

Julian Hill labels Israeli prime minister’s position ‘appalling’ as he calls for financial consequences for Israeli settlers The Guardian | Paul Karp | 20 January 2024 Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration he rejects any moves to establish a Palestinian state after Israel’s offensive in Gaza has been labelled “appalling” and a step toward “apartheid” by influential Labor… Continue reading Labor MP condemns Netanyahu’s rejection of Palestinian state as a step toward apartheid

Prospect of close combat in overpopulated area ‘deeply concerning’, say aid officials, while Gaza’s largest functioning hospital may have to close The Guardian | Jason Burke | 20 January 2024 As Israeli forces have moved further into southern Gaza, airstrikes and close-combat fighting are approaching areas crowded with more than a million people seeking refuge… Continue reading Alarm as Israeli forces move closer to crowded areas in southern Gaza

The Guardian | Daniel Hurst | 20 January 2024 There was a moment at the beginning of Penny Wong’s trip to the Middle East this week when the foreign affairs minister seemed to admit Australia’s limited influence. “Look, I don’t think Australia can come to the region demanding specific assurances,” Wong said when asked to… Continue reading As Gaza crisis worsens, the Albanese government is on the defensive

By Jonathan Kuttab When confronted with fear, danger, loss, or direct threats or even attacks, there is a natural temptation to respond with violence. For the powerful, violence serves to guarantee their power and privileges. They assert the legitimacy of violence in order to safeguard their status and monopoly on power, claiming that any who… Continue reading The Appeal of Violence

Since October 7 Israel has accelerated demolitions in Palestinian areas, in what campaigners call collective punishment. Wiping away tears, Ghadeer al-Atrash stood before her bulldozed home in a Palestinian village abutting Israeli settlements, a fate feared by hundreds of villagers as Israel ramps up demolitions during wartime. The destruction of homes built without Israeli-issued permits,… Continue reading Palestinian village fears Israel wartime demolitions

DURA, West Bank, Jan 16 (Reuters) – A Palestinian shop owner said Israeli troops used him as a human shield to protect themselves during a raid on the town of Dura in the occupied West Bank. Mobile phone footage showed Baha Abu Ras being marched up a street by a soldier who guided him from… Continue reading Palestinian says Israeli soldiers used him as human shield in West Bank

Posted Sun 17 Dec 2023 at 11:54pmSunday 17 Dec 2023 at 11:54pm, updated Mon 18 Dec 2023 at 11:05amMonday 18 Dec 2023 at 11:05am The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, according to the latest report from Human Rights Watch. The body said the blocking by the Israeli government of food, water… Continue reading Israel-Gaza war: Human Rights Watch says starvation is being used as ‘a weapon of war’ by the Israeli government

17 JANUARY 2024 – THE AGE Australia will boost funding to help Palestinian civilians affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Penny Wong announced after arriving in the Middle East for her first visit as foreign minister. Wong, who held meetings in Jordan on Tuesday ahead of visits to Israel, the West Bank and the… Continue reading Wong boosts funding for Gaza civilians on Middle East visit