Israeli Occupation Burns Displaced Palestinian Civilians

The Australian National Imams Council strongly condemns the abhorrent destruction inflicted by the Israeli occupation forces on displaced Palestinians sheltering in tents outside al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza’s city of Deir El-Balah.

Verified footage from journalists and activists has revealed the devastating impact of Israel’s overnight attack on the hospital, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals and leaving dozens with severe burn injuries.

Dr. Mohammed Tahir, a volunteer surgeon at the hospital, said: “Patients with significant high percentage burns – unfortunately, their fate is sealed. They won’t even make it to the ICU. They will die.”

The attack targeted a displacement camp, causing the tents to quickly ignite and leading to a large fire that engulfed both the tents and hospital facilities.

In line with the Oxford English Dictionary definition of holocaust, which includes ‘a destructive burning of something; a large destructive fire, a conflagration’ – we can find no more accurate description of what continues to be inflicted upon displaced Palestinians today: a holocaust.

We stand in solidarity with the victims and their families during this dark time of selective application of human rights on the world stage.

The genocide, suffering and dehumanisation inflicted upon Palestinians is sheer barbarism and evil. We will continue to raise our voices in the face of tyranny and oppression towards a people who have suffered over 76 years of illegal occupation and had their land usurped under the guise of a sustained colonialist agenda.

The Australian National Imams Council calls upon the Australian Government to:

1. Impose an immediate arms embargo on Israel;
2. Suspend military cooperation and training programs with Israel;
3. Condemn human rights violations by Israeli forces and call for investigation and accountability;
4. Demand the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador; and
5. Ensure humanitarian aid is allowed to enter Gaza, especially the North where no food, water or medical supplies have entered for the last 9 days.