Nearly 500 lawyers in Australia have signed an open letter pushing the Australian government to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and take urgent steps to ensure international law is upheld.
Addressed to the Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence and Attorney General, the letter urges the government to “act without delay” to fulfil its international obligations in relation to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“The death, trauma and other harm visited on individuals, families and whole communities in the last month has been devastating. The well-accepted limits of international law, human rights law, and the law of armed conflict have been exceeded. There is mounting evidence that atrocity crimes have been committed,” the letter reads.
“Atrocity crimes are considered to be the most serious crimes against humankind. Their status as international crimes is based on the belief that the acts associated with them affect the core dignity of human beings. International law is not being upheld.”
The lawyers call on the Australian government to exert its influence to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank, and ensure there is adequate provision of food, fuel, medicine and other humanitarian assistance to Gaza as well as the unconditional restoration of water and electricity.
It also says the government must act urgently to ensure international law is complied with and that the fundamental human rights are protected. The lawyers also advocate for an end to the occupation of Palestine and peace for all people in the region based on “equal rights”.
Further, the letter also implores the Australian government to halt defence exports to Israel and confirm what “military-specific goods” have been provided between 2017 and 31 March 2023, and whether these have been used in accordance with international law.
“To prevent further atrocities, we urge the Australian Government, together with the wider international community, to act with utmost urgency pursuant to the UN Charter, Art 1,85 to ensure that that the fundamental rights – including the human rights – of both Israelis and Palestinians are upheld, and to work towards a just, lasting and sustainable peaceful settlement for all those in the region, including those in the now devastated Gaza Strip,” the letter concludes.
Earlier this week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he held deep concerns that the Gaza Strip is turning into “a graveyard for children“, with children accounting for around 40 per cent of the more than 10,000 people who have been reportedly killed in the past 30 days in Gaza.
“Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children. Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly being killed or injured every day. I am deeply concerned about clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing,” Guterres said.
Meanwhile, the dire situation in Gaza has exacerbated the risk of maternal and newborn mortality, with an average of 160 pregnant women expected to give birth every day over the next month in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has reiterated that there would be no ceasefire before captives held by Hamas are released. Hamas is believed to have taken more than 200 hostages into Gaza following the October 7 massacre in Israel, where more than 1400 people were killed.