66 AUSTRALIAN MPS: "We the undersigned members of Australian federal and state parliaments, call on all Australian politicians to condemn the ongoing Israeli military bombardment and invasion of Gaza"

“Canberra Declaration on Gaza, 25 July 2014.

We the undersigned members of Australian federal and state parliaments, call on all Australian politicians to condemn the ongoing Israeli military bombardment and invasion of Gaza.

We call on Australian politicians to support an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire deal which includes an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories and to the blockade of Gaza.

We call on all Australian politicians to also support the United Nations Human Rights Council's decision to launch an independent inquiry into purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

Over 1700* Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, since Israel started its military attack on Gaza three weeks ago. The United Nations says at least 75 percent of the dead are civilians, including an estimated 300 children. In the last two days, Palestinian children have been killed at a rate of one per hour.

The rockets fired from Gaza are not in any way justified and insofar as they threaten and harm civilians are illegal under international law. However, these imprecise rockets cannot be compared with the broad-scale bombing of Gaza by Israel which has one of the world's largest military forces.

Collective punishment is not permitted under the Geneva conventions and is a war crime.

Hospitals, places of worship, and a centre for people with disabilities have been among the Israeli military's targets.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is providing shelter to more than 102,788 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The international community including Australia has a vital responsibility to put pressure on Israel to end its current military attack on Gaza and broker a solution of justice and peace.

*updated 7 August 2014

Signed by -

1. Maria Vamvakinou MP, Labor

2. Melissa Parke MP, Labor

3. Laurie Ferguson MP, Labor

4. Alan Griffin MP, Labor

5. Sharon Claydon MP, Labor

6. Adam Bandt MP, Greens

7. Barbara Perry MP, Labor

8. Andrew Giles MP, Labor

9. Paul Lynch MP, Labor

10. Jamie Parker MP, Greens

11. Lynda Voltz MLC, Labor

12. Shaoquett Moselmane MLC, Labor

13. David Shoebridge MLC, Greens

14. Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, Greens

15. Dr John Kaye MLC, Greens

16. Jeremy Buckingham MLC, Greens

17. Jan Barham MLC, Greens

18. Senator Claire Moore, Labor

19. Senator Nick Xenophon, Independent

20. Senator Christine Milne, Greens

21. Senator Lee Rhiannon, Greens

22. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens

23. Senator Larissa Waters, Greens

24. Senator Janet Rice, Greens

25. Senator Richard Di Natale, Greens

26. Senator Penny Wright, Greens

27. Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens

28. Senator Scott Ludlam, Greens

29. Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens

30. Senator Sue Lines, Labor

31. Tammy Franks MLC, Greens

32. Graham Perrett MP, Labor

33. Senator Anne Urquhart, Labor

34. Terri Butler MP, Labor

35. Julie Owens MP, Labor

36. Lisa Chesters MP, Labor

37. Senator Gavin Marshall, Labor

38. Senator Anne McEwen , Labor

39. Senator Carol Brown, Labor

40. Senator Doug Cameron, Labor

41. Cassy O'Connor MLA, Greens

42. Senator Jan McLucas, Labor

43. Lynn MacLaren MLC, Greens

44. Jill Hall MP, Labor

45. Jackie Trad MP, Labor

46. Malcolm Fraser, former Liberal Prime Minister

47. Shane Rattenbury MLA, Greens

48. Yvette Berry MLA, Labor

49. Bronwyn Halfpenny MP, Labor

50. Tony Piccolo MP, Labor

51. Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent

52. Senator Lisa Singh, Labor

53. Khalil Eideh MP, Labor

54. Lee Tarlamis MP, Labor

55. Johan Scheffer MP, Labor

56. Katrine Hildyard MP, Labor

57. Janine Freeman MLA, Labor

58. Amanda Fazio MLC, Labor

59. Mary Porter MLA, Labor

60. Ian Hunter MLC, Labor

61. Stephanie Key MP, Labor

62. Maree Edwards MP, Labor

63. Adam Searle MLC, Labor

64. Sylvia Hale, former Greens MLC

65. John Gazzola MLC, Labor

66. Mark Parnell MLC, Greens".

“Australian MPs take action on Gaza”, The Greens, Lee Rhiannon, 27 July 2014: https://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/articles/australian-mps-take-action-gaza .