Fatima Payman quits foreign affairs committee after ‘River to the sea’ comments

An MP who broke ranks to criticise Israel over a “genocide” in Gaza has quit a parliamentary committee.

Labor MP Fatima Payman has resigned from a parliamentary committee after breaking ranks to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza.

The WA Labor MP, who is of Muslim faith, had caused furore in parliament when she chanted controversial pro-Palestine quote “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” in the chamber and accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Labor Senator Fatima Payman has quit a senate committee. Picture: AAP

The phrase is seen by the Jewish community as going against a two-state solution.

“My conscience has been uneasy for far too long and I must call this out for what it is,” she said at the time.

“This is a genocide and we need to stop pretending otherwise.”

A government spokesman confirmed Ms Payman had stood down from her role on the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Western Australian Labor senator Fatima Payman with Anthony Albanese.

“Senator Payman has resigned from the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee,” a spokesman said.

“The government’s policy is clear — we support a two-state solution.”
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Originally published as Fatima Payman quits foreign affairs committee after ‘River to the sea’ comments