‘Starvation of children’: Jason Clare says Israel not complying with international law

A senior Labor minister has made a striking claim about Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying his community is asking for the killing to stop.

Education Minister Jason Clare has questioned Israel’s compliance with international law as the war in Gaza enters its second year.

The senior Labor MP represents the Western Sydney seat of Blaxland, a multicultural melting pot with one of the largest percentages of Muslim constituents in the country.

Mr Clare said on Thursday that for his community, the expanding conflict in the Middle East was “a little bit different than for most of Australia”.

“For most of Australia they see a war on the other side of the world,” told the ABC.

“For my community, the people that we see images of dying on our TV screens are often family or friends.”

Education Minister Jason Clare says the expanding war in the Middle East is being felt in his community differently. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Upwards of 40,000 have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military action against Hamas, the terrorist group that runs the Palestinian territory.

Independent monitors and aid groups have reported dire conditions in the densely populated strip, with a further 1.9 million people displaced and facing famine and rampant disease.

Mr Clare said his community was “asking for a little bit more compassion and a bit more understanding”.

Independent monitors and aid groups have reported dire conditions in Gaza. Picture: Eyad Baba / AFP

“They’re asking for the killing to stop, for the slaughter to stop, for the starvation of children to stop,” he said.

“They’re asking for a ceasefire and for the war to end, and I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

He said Israel “has a right to defend itself” but international law must be followed.

“The bombing of schools and the bombing of hospitals, I think, are not complying with international law,” he said.

Israel started its campaign in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks that killed some 1200 and left thousands more injured.

The Islamist group carried out horrific acts of sexual violence and torture and slaughtered entire families.

Much of the assault was captured in videos that flooded social media.

Originally published as ‘Starvation of children’: Jason Clare says Israel not complying with international law