Since October 2023, the world has watched Israel launch a devastating genocidal campaign on the Gaza strip, home to 2.3 million people. During this time, we have seen evidence of collective punishment, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, forced migration and displacement of civilians carried out against the people of Gaza. The actions of Israel amount to genocide. Israel has bombed every section of Gaza, including repeated attacks on so called “humanitarian zones”. The vast majority of those killed or wounded are women and children. There have been countless reports of children killed by Israeli snipers. As of the 29th of May, Israel has target health care facilities over 450 times and killed at least 723 health care workers. We mourn the loss of civilian lives on October 7 and support the immediate release of hostages and political prisoners. However, this tragedy does not justify Israel’s destruction of Gaza. Violence will never bring peace and security to the people of Palestine and Israel.
General Resolution
Support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and recognition of a Palestinian state
ACT Labor conference resolves that: 1. The Federal Labor Government to strongly support and take all possible serious action for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. This includes sanctions on the state of Israel. 2. The Federal Labor Government must take action towards a two-state solution and support the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people by immediately recognising Palestine as a fully independent sovereign state. ACT Labor strongly supports the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and condemns the operation of an Apartheid system in Israel. 3. The Federal Labor Government must publicly express its unequivocal support for the decision of the International Court of Justice in the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) on 26 January 2024, and support the Court's provisional measures to prevent genocide. Further the Federal Labor Government will publicly support the work of the ICC. 4. The Federal Labor Government must halt any supply of defence components, military technology and/or military cooperation to Israel whilst it is carrying out human rights abuses. This includes dual-use components. 5. The Federal Labor Government must apply sanctions to Israel in response to human rights abuses and war crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Further, the federal Labor government must investigate any Australian citizens serving in the IDF for potential war crimes. 6. Reaffirms ACT Labor's strong condemnation of Islamophobia and Antisemitism in Australia and our opposition to war, violence and racism.