‘Morally bankrupt’: Greens make further push to condemn Israel, defend Gaza

Jewish leaders have condemned the latest attempt by the Greens to weigh in on the deteriorating crisis in the Middle East after the party called on Israel not to invade Gaza.

Jewish leaders have condemned the latest attempt by the Greens to weigh in on the deteriorating crisis in the Middle East after the party put forward a motion in the Senate calling on Israel not to invade Gaza.

On Wednesday morning, Greens senator Nick McKim gave notice to move as a matter of urgency a motion reading, “that the Senate opposes Israel’s invasion of Gaza.”

News of the motion comes amid increased tension in the Middle East, an impending visit by US president Joe Biden, and controversy over an explosion at a Gaza hospital that was initially blamed on Israel but which Israel says was caused by misfired Hamas ordnance.

Speaking on Sky News Wednesday, Greens leader Adam Bandt said, “The Greens have condemned the attacks of Hamas, they amount to war crimes.”

With the civilian death toll mounting, this morning the Greens called again for an end to the invasion of Gaza.

Labor & the Liberals voted together to defeat our motion. pic.twitter.com/Ju3XwIGI6Q

— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) October 17, 2023

“But ... we’re hearing reports from the UN that orders from the Israeli military for people to evacuate amounted to a death sentence.”

A Palestinian child injured in an air strike awaits treatment at the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern end of Gaza Strip. Picture: AFP

“We are calling on the government to change its position and now call on the Israeli military to stop the invasion.”

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said the Greens Party “has shown itself to be utterly compromised and morally bankrupt when it comes to foreign policy issues.”

IDF Soldiers ride in armored personnel carriers in Be'eri, Israel. Picture: Getty

An explosion on a residential tower caused by Israeli raids in the northern Gaza Strip. Picture: Getty

“If they had a shred of integrity they would be calling for the unconditional release of 199 Israelis held by sadistic animals in Gaza.”

“If they had a shred of integrity they would be calling for the dismantlement of a jihadist terror group that uses rape, torture and abduction as weapons of war,” he said.

Earlier in the week Labor and the Coalition teamed up in the House of Representatives to defeat a Greens attempt to amend a motion on the recent Hamas terrorist attacks to include a condemnation of Israeli “war crimes”.

Senator Fatima Payman gives her first speech in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

However on Tuesday afternoon, WA Labor senator Fatima Payman spoke in the upper house in defense of Palestine.

“Israeli missiles strike residential dwellings, civilians, multistorey apartments, health facilities as well as places of worship, indiscriminately killing men, women and children. We must condemn it,” she said.

MORE TO COME

Originally published as ‘Morally bankrupt’: Greens make further push to condemn Israel, defend Gaza