By Zena Chamas Shame on Israel – Mark Nothing could mentally prepare Roger Hearn for the devastation he saw in Gaza during a visit in November. The Melbourne-born UNRWA director of relief and social services in Gaza had visited several times throughout his decades-long career. But this time was different. As director of relief, he was responsible for organising the distribution of food from aid trucks coming in through the border. But what “depressed” him the most was being unable to bring in enough food to help

Started by Pax Christi In the Name of Christ, Our Peace  The time has come for people of faith to hear the cries of the people of Palestine Gaza and Lebanon and to do everything in our power towards the ending of the death and destruction they are suffering. We condemn the brutal invasion of Israel, the death and destruction and the taking of hostages by Hamas on 7 October 2023.  We remind you that this is the latest episode in the very long war waged by

December 12th 2024  Israel continues to kill and starve civilians in Gaza. Among the casualties during Israel’s attacks last week in North Gaza was Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun, a beloved Palestinian chef and the founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Chef Almadhoun was known for feeding the hungry. In the presence of famine and starvation, he crafted new dishes that served over 3,000 people and patients daily near the Kamal Adwan Hospital. Prior to his death by an Israeli sniper, he was reported saying, “We will keep serving

More murder of innocents – Mark Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli air strikes on Thursday killed at least 33 people, including 12 guards securing aid trucks, while the military said it targeted militants planning to hijack the vehicles.The latest bloodshed came after the UN General Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire in the devastated territory, where war has raged since October 2023.Seven guards were killed in a strike in Rafah, in southern Gaza, while another attack left five guards dead in nearby Khan Yunis, agency

Good on ya Penny – Mark Foreign Minister Penny Wong has shared a statement following Australia’s United Nations vote in favour of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.Australia joined an overwhelming majority of 158 nations that voted in favour of two resolutions, in support of a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and backing the ability of the UN’s Palestinian aid agency to continue operations in Israel.“We want this war to end and the hostages home,” Wong wrote on X.X …. Penny Wong … (For

The Irish Government also approved an intervention in a case against Myanmar. Good for the Irish – Mark Ireland will formally intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) this month. The move to file an intervention at the UN’s top court at The Hague will happen later this month, and comes after Government approval of the measure on Wednesday. Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes genocide. The Irish Government also approved an intervention in The Gambia’s case against Myanmar,

By Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran, Haidarr Jones and Orly Halpern in the West Bank This is 100% the behaviour of 90% of Israeli soldiers – Mark checkpoints, concrete walls and razor wire separating the Palestinian community from Jewish settlers. The Israeli military and police maintain a heavy presence in Hebron, insisting they are there to maintain the security of residents and prevent terrorism. But their conduct is being brought into question, with five Palestinian men telling the ABC they have been bashed, whipped, threatened and arbitrarily

The anti-Palestinian crackdown in NSW public schools Shocking but sadly not surprising – Mark Earlier this month, news broke that a 17-year-old student at Condell Park High School in Sydney’s west has filed a complaint against the school with the Australian Human Rights Commission. The student, who has not been named in media reports, was banned from attending his school formal because he wore a scarf with a keffiyeh pattern to his year 12 graduation ceremony. The teenager, who is of Palestinian heritage, told The Sydney Morning Heraldhow