As Israel continues its genocidal killing spree in Gaza, United States President Donald Trump has hatched a new plan to ensure Palestinians have little to no say over the future of their recognised, but illusory, state.
While countries may have vetoed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly, they seem to be coalescing behind a new US plan for Gaza, which gives British war criminal and former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair the starring role as leader of the so-called Gaza International Transitional Authority, for an unspecified number of years, before being handed back to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
When he was PM, Blair signed Britain up to the “Coalition of the Willing” which illegally invaded and occupied Iraq in 2003, on the false claim that it had weapons of mass destruction. He features in Trump’s new 21-point plan, which Arab and Muslim leaders are discussing, as de facto governor general of Gaza, after Hamas has been eliminated.
Trump’s new plan involves allowing for a Palestinian state, according to Al Jazeera, although only after Hamas is disarmed, Gazans are encouraged to leave and the West and Arab states help the discredited PA reinvent itself.
Trump’s plan was presented to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia and Turkiye on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. An “international stabilisation force”, largely drawn from Arab and Muslim countries, would be deployed, also to train a new Palestinian security force in Gaza, Al Jazeera said on September 27.
Meanwhile, Israel’s obliteration of Gaza City continues, while Zionist settlers keep advancing in the West Bank.
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ensured he was photographed with both Blair and Trump at different gatherings over the last week, we can be sure he is on board this neo-colonial non-solution for Palestine.
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, summed up the views of millions when she said on X: “Tony Blair? Hell no. Hands off Palestine. Shall we meet in The Hague perhaps?”
Meanwhile, rallies for Palestine continued across so-called Australia in the lead up to the two-year anniversary of the genocide and the planned October 12 national day of action.
Peter Boyle reports from Gadigal Country/Sydney that Palestinian Australian physician Dr Sarah Abdo, who has volunteered twice in Gaza’s struggling hospitals, told the September 28 protest: “Healthcare workers’ testimonies changed nothing. The words of the UN, the ICC and the ICJ changed nothing. International arrest warrants changed nothing and the genocide rages.
“We need the collective power of the people — like our brothers and sisters on the Sumud Flotilla — to sacrifice more of our privilege, more of our comfort, more of our time and energy for the people of Palestine so that they can claim back the safety, dignity, liberty and land that is rightfully theirs.”
Hannah Thomas, the former Greens candidate for Grayndler, told the rally: “Palestine does not need white butchers dressed up as white saviours. And they sure as hell do not need Tony Blair, the Butcher of Iraq, who Donald Trump’s White House wants to parachute in to run a so-called Gaza Transition Authority.
“The same man who lied his way into an illegal war, whose legacy is mass graves in Iraq, is now offered up as the manager of Gaza’s future. And our own PM Anthony Albanese has said he is open to that possibility.”
Eppy Najjarine, from Teachers and School Staff for Palestine, told the protest: “Western leaders are full partners in genocide. Some pretend to be appalled, some say they will recognise Palestinian state, but this is theatre, a performance. They arm and fund the killers while silencing anyone who speaks out.
“And so, what we actually need is real action: Sanctions now! No more weapons to or from Israel! Expel the Israeli ambassador!”
Markela Panegyres reports that about 1000 people rallied in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide to call for an end to the genocide and to sanction apartheid Israel. Speakers said Australia’s recognition of the state of Palestine is hollow if it ignores the reality on the ground, and called for immediate sanctions on Israel.
Adam Bremner reports that activists held a vibrant protest on September 28 at the weekly Naarm/Melbourne Palestine rally, organised by Free Palestine Coalition Naarm and Sit Intifada.
Thousands of protesters gathered at the State Library Victoria and marched down Swanston Street to Flinders Street Station.
Alex Bainbridge reports that Justice for Palestine Magan-djin held two "Boycott Caltex" actions on September 27 at Caltex service stations at Dutton Park and Kedron in Magan-djin/Brisbane.
At Dutton Park, Queensland Police tried to prevent activists from discussing with motorists the reasons for the boycott, and pointing out that cheaper petrol was available a short drive away.
Caltex is owned by Chevron which is directly complicit in Israel's genocide against the people of Gaza. Chevron’s gas fuels Israel’s illegal settlements on Palestinian land, the Israeli economy, Israel’s genocidal army and the blockade of Gaza.
