Anthony Albanese’s October 7 statement is further evidence of his government’s complicity, including lies by omission.
It contains many twisted distortions, if not outright lies. It is also silent about the brutal genocide committed by the state of Israel, in which Australia is complicit.
Any “atrocity” by Hamas has been more than outdone by Israel’s military since October 7. Some estimate that close to 680,000, mainly civilian, Gazans have been killed in this genocide. We shouldn’t forget that October 7 was itself a response to Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza, committing collective punishment.
Further, many of the atrocities attributed to Hamas on October 7 were committed by Israel, which has been found to have killed their own people on that day. Netanyahu has refused to allow a thorough, independent investigation into these events.
You do not have to be a Hamas supporter to recognise that Hamas is a national liberation movement, which has stood against Israel’s illegal and brutal occupation. When Palestinians win their liberation - to which Hamas will have contributed - that will be a victory for all humanity.
The defeat of Zionism (not Judaism) will be a victory for all humanity and a liberating moment for Jews and Palestinians alike.
Albanese is silent about the untold numbers of innocent Gazans who have been deliberately targeted, but he remembered Galid Carbone, an Australian who was killed in the October 7 attack.
He didn’t remember aid worker Zomi Frankcom on the anniversary of her slaughter by the IDF and he hasn’t stuck his neck out to secure the release of Australians on the Sumud Flotilla being held illegally in Israeli prisons.
Albanese should be reminded that every remaining hostage being held in Gaza was a serving member of the Israeli military on October 7. None are “innocent civilians”. They should be released as should the thousands of Palestinians being held hostage by Israel, mostly not even accused of a crime, let alone convicted.
Albanese said “the Australian government also stands with Jewish people around the world, who feel the cold shadow of history’s darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism”.
Yes, we need to stand up against antisemitism, but criticism of Israel is not antisemitism as he continually tries to claim.
The lesson of the Holocaust is that we should never again allow genocide to be perpetrated against anybody. This genocide shows that Albanese has shown his inability to grasp this historical lesson.
Albanese has welcomed Donald Trump’s “peace” plan, despite most Palestinians saying it a “surrender plan”. Unless more of their negotiators are blown up by Israel, Hamas is trying to negotiate a pathway forward.
To help end the genocide, Australia must take a stand up against the illegal occupation of Palestine — the source of the entire conflict. There can be no peace under any plan until that injustice is rectified.
Albanese claims Australia has “consistently” been part of the international pressure for a ceasefire, but it took Australia until December 13, 2023 to vote for a ceasefire at the UN, after 800 genocide scholars had written a statement warning about genocide.
Since then, they may have called for a ceasefire but they have failed to take the steps that put weight behind that call. These include sanctioning Israel, ending the two-way arms trade and expelling the Israeli ambassador.
They have never called for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire by Israel.
Albanese insists it is “our duty to do everything in our power to see a just and lasting peace in the Middle East”. He is manifestly failing in his duty.