Peter Khalil (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with students from Coburg High School to discuss advocacy for peace in the Middle East. The students were thoughtful and deeply passionate. They came ready with considered questions and asked me to discuss my reflections on these today. The loss of innocent life that has occurred on and since October 7 in Gaza is horrific, and we all agree that the suffering must end. I've consistently called for a permanent ceasefire and return of hostages over the past two years and I welcome the recent ceasefire and release of hostages. It is all our hope that this ceasefire holds. But, I stress, it is the first of many more steps that will need to be taken to secure long-term peace in the region.

The challenges of political transition, a security framework and economic reconstruction in Gaza are immense. During our meeting, the students asked why Australia has not placed sanctions on Israel in the same way we have on Russia. I discussed how Australia has placed sanctions on two Israeli cabinet ministers as well as targeted financial sanctions on various entities. A straightforward answer for the students is that, while Australia has never been a major player in the region, when applying sanctions they are most effective in getting results when done in conjunction with partners such as we have done with the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

The students also asked me why we have not been referring to what is happening in Gaza as 'genocide'. I explained that we publicly support international law and the work of international tribunals such as the ICJ and the ICC. In 2024, the ICJ made a provisional ruling that Palestinians in Gaza have plausible right to protection from genocide and ordered Israel to take steps to prevent that. The Australian government supported this. As a matter of important principle, though, it is not in the power of or appropriate for any lawmaker in this place to make determinations on war crimes or genocide. I say that because we have entrusted these international tribunals, through their judicial processes, with prosecutions based on evidence presented to make these determinations on breaches of international humanitarian law such as war crimes and genocide.

The students also asked why it has taken so long for countries around the world to recognise Palestine. I explained my longstanding support for Palestinian self-determination and statehood and that I have supported this cause, peace through a two-state solution, for decades. I am hoping, as are we all, that, as we enter the next phase of the ceasefire, Palestinians will be afforded the safety to rebuild lives. Peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution—Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in peace and security. It is, has been and will ever be the only viable solution that affords peace and a secure future for both peoples. Fundamentally, that peace will only come when Israelis and Palestinians accept that the annihilation of the other can no longer and never will be a path forward.

The conversations with these students was over an hour long. We touched on a lot of topics. We spoke about their thoughts and the Australian government's work in this place. We agreed on some things and disagreed on others, but it was an important conversation that was worth having. It was worth sharing their perspectives. Thank you to the students of Coburg High School for your engagement and your advocacy.

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