As the Albanese Government commences its second term, Australia’s commitment to uphold fundamental principles of international law and human rights must be central.  

On 5 May, Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan for an ‘expanded offensive’ involving the seizure and occupation of the entire Gaza strip, forcibly displacing the nearly 2.3 million people who live there. 

This plan follows two months of Israel blocking humanitarian aid and supplies into Gaza. The World Health Organisation has warned that Israel’s blockade has already caused widespread malnutrition and disease and the UN’s child rights agency has warned children in Gaza are facing the “growing risk of starvation, illness, death”. 

Israel’s existing settlement, annexation and occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem has been found by the International Court of Justice to violate international law, including the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force.  

Israel’s planned actions in the Gaza Strip are blatantly unlawful, and Australia has clear legal obligations to actively use its power to halt further violations.  

The Human Rights Law Centre was founded with a mission to uphold and extend human rights protection in Australia and overseas, where there is a connection to Australia.  

The Australian Government is obligated under international law to do all that is necessary and reasonable to bring an end to Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blocking of humanitarian aid.  

We call on the Albanese Government to:

• Immediately cease military cooperation with Israel by way of a two way arms embargo, with the effect of halting the transfer of military aid, components and intelligence;  

• cease all other financial, trade, investment and economic relations with Israel that sustain its unlawful actions;  

• impose sanctions on officials who have promoted or incited Israel’s unlawful actions;  

• robustly investigate anyone in Australia who may be responsible for international crimes, including those participating in military activities in Gaza; and  

• uphold and unequivocally support international justice mechanisms, including binding legal orders made against the State of Israel over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. 

Anything short of this risks complicity by Australia in Israel’s unfolding international crimes, as well as breaches of Australia’s own responsibilities under international law.