25July2014

WetheundersignedmembersofAustralianfederalandstateparliaments,callonall
AustralianpoliticianstocondemntheongoingIsraelimilitarybombardmentandinvasionof
Gaza.

WecallonAustralianpoliticianstosupportanimmediatecessationofhostilitiesanda
ceasefiredealwhichincludesanendtoIsrael'soccupationofthePalestinianterritoriesand
totheblockadeofGaza.
WecallonallAustralianpoliticianstoalsosupporttheUnitedNationsHumanRights
Councilsdecisiontolaunchanindependentinquiryintopurportedviolationsof
internationalhumanitarianandhumanrightslawsintheOccupiedPalestinianTerritory,
includingEastJerusalem.

Over1000*PalestiniansinGazahavebeenkilled,sinceIsraelstarteditsmilitaryattackon
Gazathreeweeksago.TheUnitedNationssaysatleast75percentofthedeadarecivilians,
includinganestimated168children.Inthelasttwodays,Palestinianchildrenhavebeen
killedatarateofoneperhour.

TherocketsfiredfromGazaarenotinanywayjustifiedandinsofarastheythreatenand
harmciviliansareillegalunderinternationallaw.However,theseimpreciserocketscannot
becomparedwiththebroadscalebombingofGazabyIsraelwhichhasoneoftheworlds
largestmilitaryforces.

CollectivepunishmentisnotpermittedundertheGenevaconventionsandisawarcrime.

Hospitals,placesofworship,andacentreforpeoplewithdisabilitieshavebeenamongthe
Israelimilitarystargets.

TheUnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgency(UNRWA)isprovidingsheltertomorethan
102,788PalestiniansintheGazaStrip.

TheinternationalcommunityincludingAustraliahasavitalresponsibilitytoputpressureon
IsraeltoenditscurrentmilitaryattackonGazaandbrokerasolutionofjusticeandpeace.

*updated27July2014

Signedby
1. MariaVamvakinouMP
2. MelissaParkeMP
3. LaurieFergusonMP
4. AlanGriffinMP
5. SharonClaydonMP
6. AdamBandtMP
7. BarbaraPerryMP
8. AndrewGilesMP
9. PaulLynchMP
10. JamieParkerMP
11. LyndaVoltzMLC
12. ShaoquettMoselmaneMLC
13. DavidShoebridgeMLC
14. DrMehreenFaruqiMLC
15. DrJohnKayeMLC
16. JeremyBuckinghamMLC
17. JanBarhamMLC
18. SenatorClaireMoore
19. SenatorNickXenophon
20. SenatorChristineMilne
21. SenatorLeeRhiannon
22. SenatorSarahHansonYoung
23. SenatorLarissaWaters
24. SenatorJanetRice
25. SenatorRichardDiNatale
26. SenatorPennyWright
27. SenatorRachelSiewert
28. SenatorScottLudlam
29. SenatorPeterWhishWilson
30. SenatorSueLines

AnyAustralianpoliticianwhowouldliketoaddtheirnametothislettermaycontactthe
officeofMelissaParkeorSenatorLeeRhiannon:melissa.parke.mp@aph.gov.auor
senator.rhiannon@aph.gov.au.