Feb 11 Email update - Justice for Hind…

Conaghan, Pat (MP for Cowper Mid North Coast). - pat.conaghan.mp@aph.gov.au

Anthony Albanese, (Prime Minister). a.albanese.mp@aph.gov.au

Richard Marles (Deputy PM). richard.marles.mp@aph.gov.au 

Patrick Gorman (assistant to PM). patrick.gorman.mp@aph.gov.au

Penny Wong (Foreign Affairs). senator.wong@aph.gov.au

Tim Watts (assistant foreign affairs). Tim.Watts.MP@aph.gov.au

Pat Conroy (Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development). pat.conroy.mp@aph.gov.au 

I am writing to tell you a story of one child, one child of the 10,000+ that have been killed by the IDF since October 7th. And infact, even before October 7th, 2023 was already the deadliest year on record for Palestinian children living under Israel's brutal and dehumanising occupation

Hind Rajab was a beautiful six year old whose only dream was to return to her village and study to be a doctor. This month Hind was killed by the IDF. But before she died, Hind was trapped in a vehicle where she watched five of her family members be killed by Al-Hilal tanks in Gaza.

She remained on the phone to Palestinian Red Crescent for hours surrounded by Israeli tanks, alone and pleading to be rescued. But no one came. The ambulance sent to rescue Hind was discovered bombed in the Tay al-Hawa area of Gaza City.

For 12 days Hind was trapped in a vehicle with dead family members, wounded and dying while the Israeli forces made sure no one could rescue her. They knew there was a wounded 6 year old alone, in a car dying amongst the dead bodies of her family.

This is Hind’s story, she was not only killed, but tortured. This is a war crime. The actions of Israel not only contravene International laws and standards of human rights, but they are incongruent with Australian values. I continue to write to urge the Australian Government to do the following:

- Reinstate its funding of the UNRWA and support the agency as undertakes its investigation into the allegations levelled at it by the Israeli Government;

- Issue a public statement of support for the ICJ’s authority, its ruling and the obligations set out for Australia as party to the Genocide Code, while reminding Israel that it must also comply with this legally binding order to prevent genocide;

- Demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire to allow unfettered access to humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza;

- Immediately suspend all military aid, assistance and cooperation with Israel;

- Identify and advise all Australian citizens fighting in the Israel Defence Force that their actions may contribute to genocidal acts and other international crimes; and

- Support urgent International Criminal Court investigations of the backlog of cases against Israel for its litany of international law violations.