Statement on Federal government cutting funding to UNRWA

We at the Loud Jew Collective are outraged by the Australian government’s decision to suspend funding to the United Nations' refugee agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, in the wake of the ICJ’s finding that there is a plausible case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has long tried to dismantle UNRWA: this current attack must be seen as part of that history.  Join us to demand the government restore funding immediately.

Coming just days after the ICJ’s historic ruling against Israel, this heartless move speaks chillingly of the Labor party’s priorities. Desperate to avoid subjecting Israel to the standards of International Law, the Labor party has chosen to undermine UNRWA, one of the few organisations in a position to keep Palestinians alive and interrupt the genocide.

Following unverified allegations of UNRWA staff taking part in October 7 attacks on Israel, MP Josh Burns made the defamatory claim that “it is clear that they [UNRWA] still have an unacceptable situation of antisemitism and support for terror within its organisation.”

We are appalled by such comments, which urge the denial of desperately needed food, water, shelter and employment to Palestinians facing genocide. The allegations about UNRWA staff should be treated with the utmost scepticism, coming as they do from confessions likely obtained under torture at the hands of the IDF and the Shin Bet. Even if the allegations were true, cutting funding to the organisation those individuals work for can only be construed as an immoral collective punishment of Palestinians.

Act now by calling and writing to your MP, Senator Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, demanding they reverse this decision, end Australia’s participation in the genocide, and compel Israel to undertake its obligations to end the genocide and end the siege.

29 January 2024