Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the Middle East.

The Albanese government, complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza, has now joined the Israel/US illegal war on Iran, and no amount of attacks on the Greens or empty words from Senator Wong or criticising me while agreeing with me in the same breath can hide that fact. We are at war. While the world's attention is consumed by yet another forever war, Israel's genocide in Gaza continues and intensifies. The bombs have not stopped. The starvation has not stopped. The suffering of Palestinians has not stopped. In fact, this new war has provided the perfect cover for Israel to intensify its assault and tighten its stranglehold on Gaza. Israel has closed Gaza's crossings. Food, medicine and aid trucks were blocked at the gates. The Rafah crossing remains shut. Families across Gaza once again are wondering whether food will run out today, tomorrow or the day after. Israel has deregistered 37 aid organisations. Israel is now killing civilians in Palestine, Iran and Lebanon at the same time. Yet the Albanese government is the genocidal state's biggest fan. They will support anything Israel and the United States choose to do. If they bomb another city, Australia will defend them. If they starve another population, Australia will excuse them. If they launch another reckless illegal war in the region, Australia will line up right behind them. Australia is the loyal lapdog of Trump and Netanyahu—wagging its tail, licking its master's boots and waiting for the next command.

Meanwhile, ordinary people are doing what governments refuse to do. Australians are once again joining the Global Sumud Flotilla, risking their lives to deliver food and medicine to Gaza. They are brave humanitarians who must be applauded. We have already seen what happens to those who attempt these missions. Activists are kidnapped in international waters, detained, abused and denied basic rights. Yet this government still refuses to pressure Israel to lift its blockade and refuses to stand up even for Australians risking their lives to deliver humanitarian aid; this is how much it cares about humanitarian law. Instead of defending international law, this government defends those who violate it openly and blatantly. The world can see it, the people can see it and history will remember it.