Protesters continue to demand that the United States and its allies, including Australia, stop Israel from bombing Gaza and Lebanon, and widening the war to Iran, with protests continuing during the 54th week of the genocide.
In northern Gaza, Israel is denying an estimated 400,000 people access to food, water and medicines for more than two weeks now, Al Jazeera reported. The United Nations Human Rights Office says it is concerned that Israel “may be causing the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza’s northernmost governorate through death and displacement”.
Israel has now killed several Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar.
US President Joe Biden and presidential candidate Kamala Harris said “justice has been served” and that “Israel, the United States and the entire world are better off as a result”.
Al Jazeera reported on October 20 that Israel bombed northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya as rescuers tried to pull bodies and survivors from the destroyed homes.
Israel also continues to target the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the border with Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) has been in place since 1978.
US Democrats, meanwhile, continue to feign concern while giving Israel all the political and military back-up it needs to continue its genocide.
A recent leak from the US Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency suggest the US is across Israel’s attack plans on Iran.
Australia provided support to United States B-2 stealth bombers to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen on October 17, the Department of Defence confirmed on October 18.
It appears that Labor allowed the US fighter jets to access the RAAF Tindal airbase for air-to-air refueling. This is a step up from Operation Beech, involving ADF personnel and aircraft being sent to the Middle East in a non-combat role.
Rachel Evans reports that thousands rallied for Palestine and Lebanon in Gadigal Country/Sydney on October 20 in very windy conditions. The determination to stop Israel's war on Gaza and Australia's support for it is unending. The protest was organised by Palestine Action Group Sydney.
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Alex Salmon reports that more than 150 people rallied outside the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Boorloo/Perth on October 18 for a vigil and protest organised by Healthcare Workers for Palestine and supported by Friends of Palestine WA. Protesters demanded Labor end its support for Israel's genocide.
The crowd heard from various speakers, in particular healthcare workers who spoke out about Israel's continued targeting of Palestinian hospitals and healthcare workers.
The crowd marched to the nearby Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts to conclude the rally. The next rally will be held at Forrest Place at 11am on October 27.
Australia’s peak humanitarian agency The Australian Council for International Development called on the Australian government to “assert accountability and apply autonomous sanctions on Israeli officials engaged in killing civilians, consistent with the approach it has taken towards other combatants committing war crimes”.
“Engaging in siege tactics of civilians, sealing people off from humanitarian assistance and causing further starvation are all illegal under the Geneva Conventions,” Marc Purcell, ACFID’s Chief Executive Officer, said.
It said all states, “including Australia have an obligation to prevent the crimes of starvation and forcible transfer” including “targeted sanctions, and the immediate implementation of an arms materials embargo”.
It pointed to Labor’s inconsistency in implementing sanctions on 200 Iran–linked individuals and entities.
“Despite over 40,000 deaths in Gaza, the Australian Government has not yet sanctioned any Israeli government or military officials. This now looks like a lack of consistency and proportionality in how we hold governments committing gross human rights violations to account.”
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Activists in nipaluna/Hobart expressed their anger and exasperation with foreign affairs minister Penny Wong on October 15 for refusing to sanction Israel. She was delivering a speech about international relations and policy at the University of Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Advocacy Network organised a protest outside, calling for a ceasefire, and inside protesters also made their point. Labor members also joined the protest.
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Alex Bainbridge reports that cyclists rode 140km on October 19 to build solidarity and raise funds for Palestine as part of the Big Ride for Palestine in Magan-djin/Brisbane. The Big Ride concluded with a smaller event on October 20.
Also in Magan-djin on October 20, Phil Monsour and friends hosted a well-attended public concert in Bunyapa Park with songs for Palestine and Lebanon.
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Hundreds marched against Israel’s genocide in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon in Tharawal/Wollongong on October 20. Protesters promised to keep speaking out until Israel and its accomplices are held accountable.
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In Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide, unionists, climate and Palestine solidarity activists expressed their anger and disappointment with Labor outside the South Australian Labor Party Convention on October 20, reports Jordan Ellis.
Placards read “Labor you’ve let us down”, pointing to Labor’s attacks on the right to protest and unions, and its lack of action on public housing, welfare payment rates, refugee rights and support for Palestine. They also called out the expansion of fossil fuel projects and the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.
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Also in Kaurna Yerta, families and community members joined a global day of kite flying in solidarity with Palestine.
The children of Gaza broke the world record for the largest number of kites flown in 2011, with 15,000 children flying more than 12,000 kits at al Waha beach. More than 16,000 children have been killed in Israel’s ongoing genocide, with thousands more injured and displaced.
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Students at the University of Melbourne have launched a campaign to refer university management to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its complicity in Israel’s genocide and war crimes.
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