Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for International Aid and Global Justice, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has called on Foreign Minister Penny Wong to take urgent action to protect the more than 50 boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which are carrying vital, lifesaving aid for the victims of Israel's genocide and forced starvation. Seven Australians are on board the Flotilla.
Senator Faruqi is calling on Minister Wong to uphold her recently launched 'Declaration for the protection of Humanitarian Personnel' at the UN.
As stated by Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for International Aid & Global Justice:
"Right now, hundreds of people on the Flotilla are risking their lives to deliver food, water and medical supplies directly to the people of Gaza, who are being deliberately starved by Israel. Minister Wong must honour her commitment to those delivering humanitarian aid and guarantee the Government will do everything in its power to protect the Flotilla and its mission.
"Just last week, the Foreign Minister said we must protect aid workers who deliver the food, water and medicine that civilians need to survive. Now is the test of whether she actually meant it, or whether it was just more of the empty words we have come to expect from this Government.
"There is no place more dangerous to be an aid worker than Gaza, where Israel's bombardment of Palestinians has also targeted health workers, journalists, and aid workers, yet these courageous people from across the world are sailing to Gaza to deliver urgently needed aid.
"Minister Wong has touted her commitment to aid personnel on the world stage, and this will be the first test of whether the Australian Government will stand up to Israel and demand free passage of humanitarian aid.
"The Labor Government allowed the Israeli Government to whitewash the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom with a sham investigation. Zomi's killers continue to walk free, and not a single person or entity has been sanctioned for her killing. The time for impunity is over.
"I am also deeply concerned to hear that the Government has all but abandoned consular support for the Australians on the Flotilla and their families. This is unacceptable.
"If the Labor Government recognises the State of Palestine, it must also recognise the genocide Palestinians are experiencing under Israeli occupation. The Albanese Government must sanction Israel and support every effort to break the illegal Israeli blockade that is killing Palestinians every day.
"We live in hope that Minister Wong will finally do something tangible and take action to stop Israel's genocide and war crimes. The Genocide Convention requires it, international law requires it, and her conscience must require it.
"The flotilla represents the best of humanity-ordinary people stepping forward where governments have failed. The Labor government must break its silence and publicly support and protect this humanitarian mission."
