- Urgent medical assistance needed for Gaza
- War crimes must be stopped by the international community
Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN)
IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer & Human Rights Activist
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE 7 January 2025
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) is horrified that the war waged by Israel since 8 October 2023 has been allowed to continue. This has devastated the lives of virtually the whole population of more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza.
It is beyond the time for urgent action. The UN Security Council must act immediately on the war in Gaza, in light of Article 99 of the UN Charter being invoked by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ on 7 December 2024.
On December 12th Australia voted with 157 other nations for a resolution in the General Assembly calling for an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
However, in the weeks that have followed no ceasefire has been observed by Israel and there have been hundreds more civilian deaths, horrific wounds inflicted on children and more homes and schools demolished.
Israel’s pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza has also continued unabated.
‘It is clear that words and resolutions are not working’, said IPAN Spokesperson Ms Kathryn Kelly, ‘and direct intervention by the international community is required’.
‘IPAN condemns these attacks which have resulted in the deaths of health workers, destruction of essential equipment and pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse. These are war crimes’, stated Ms Kelly.
‘IPAN also deplores the fact that the Israeli Government has not implemented the provisional measures it was ordered to take by the International Court of Justice, almost twelve months ago, to prevent any acts contrary to the 1948 Genocide Convention’, stated Ms Kelly.
IPAN also shares, with health professionals from across the globe, grave concerns about the safety of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the Director of one of the last partially functioning hospitals in northern Gaza whom the Israeli military arrested during their raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya on Friday 29 December 2023. His current whereabouts are unknown.
IPAN calls on our government to:
- Recall the Israeli ambassador to Australia, to advise expulsion, in the absence of an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire and the release of Dr Hussam Abu Safia from detention
- Recall Australia’s ambassador from Israel, in the absence of an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire and the release of Dr Hussam Abu Safia from detention
- Apply trade sanctions to the Israeli Government
- End all bilateral military-technology trade with Israel
- Publicly state to abide by the rulings of the ICC to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Gallant, were they to attempt to enter Australia
ENDS
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For Media Interviews: Ms Kathryn Kelly 0431 597 256
Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow 0403 611 815
Bio: Kathryn Kelly is a former federal public servant who worked largely in the environment and Aboriginal affairs portfolios. She visited Gaza and the West Bank in 2002 and 2003 and then founded the ‘Australians for Justice and Peace in Palestine’ organisation in Canberra in 2003. Kathryn was a member of the IPAN National Coordinating Committee as an ACT rep, (2013-2023). Kathryn was also a founding co-convenor of the Alliance Against
Political Prosecutors until recently, advocating for the truth tellers/whistleblowers.