Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Pedestrian.tv
Pedestrian.tv
National
AAP

Foreign Minister Penny Wong Calls For Investigation Into The Killing Of Paramedics In Gaza

Australia is pushing for a “thorough” investigation into the Israeli military’s killing of 15 humanitarian aid workers after a new video emerged of the shooting in Gaza.

The footage, obtained from one of the victims’ phones, contradicted Israeli accounts that IDF troops opened fire because they were approached “suspiciously” by vehicles without lights and sirens.

The video shows a convoy of marked ambulances using their emergency lights and coming under fire without warning.

Paramedics can be heard praying in their harrowing final moments.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said those responsible for the attack must be held to account.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for a thorough investigation into the attack on aid workers. (Image source: Lisa Marie David – Pool/Getty Images)

“The deaths of humanitarian workers in Gaza are unacceptable,” a spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.

“Aid workers must be protected and Australia repeats its call on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law. It is appropriate that there is a thorough and independent investigation.”

Israel says it has announced an investigation into the incident to be undertaken by the Israeli military.

Labor is facing a backlash in some traditionally safe electorates, such as Watson in western Sydney, where Muslim voters are threatening to abandon the party over a perceived failure to call out Israeli war crimes.

Mariam Tomahy, a member of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine, said Senator Wong’s calls for an investigation were too little, too late, given the earlier silence from the government about the killing, which happened in March.

“It’s a very slow response, and we expect a lot more from our government,” she told AAP.

“We consider these kinds of statements as lip service, to be honest.”

The pro-Palestine group is holding a rally at Bankstown, in the seat of Watson, on Sunday afternoon to call out a rise in Islamophobia since the start of the war in Gaza.

Ms Tomahy sensed a real backlash coming for sitting Labor frontbencher Tony Burke.

“We’re seeing an unprecedented reaction from Western Sydneysiders,” she said. 

“We pretty much feel like Labor has been complicit and aiding and approving and not doing enough to stop the genocide.”

The coalition has remained silent on the killing of aid workers in Gaza.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi says Muslim communities are tired of the main parties’ inaction on racism.  (Image source: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

For many Muslim voters, the prospect of a Peter Dutton-led government is even worse than another term of Labor.

But Ms Tomahy hoped the backlash would at least scare Labor into action.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi said Muslim communities were mobilising in the election to end the two-party status quo that has ignored them.

“Muslim communities are sick and tired of the inaction, double standards and dog whistling when it comes to racism,” she said.

Image source: Getty Images / AAP News Room

The post Foreign Minister Penny Wong Calls For Investigation Into The Killing Of Paramedics In Gaza appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.