Contributed by Joe Montero

One outrage after another, the Israeli state knows no limit to depravity. Slaughter with bullets and bombs, is followed by deliberate starvation by blocking food. Access to water, electricity, and medicine are added to make sure more die. And that a delegation, made up of diplomats representing 31 countries, who arrived on the scene in Jenin in the West Bank to witness what is happening. The representatives from Europe, Britain, Canada, Egypt, China, and a range of other countries were deliberately shot at with live ammunition.

Israeli soldiers fired shots near group of diplomats in West Bank 

Video from The Guardian

This was a deliberate targeting in disregard international law, which provides immunity to accredited diplomatic representatives. Taking the cue from the United States, which violated the same law with the abduction of Venezuelan Ambassador Alex Saab in June 2021, Israeli has taken it a lot further.

More important than international law is the level of callousness, and a total absence of basis human decency. It is mind numbing that Israel’s crimes against humanity, as aptly described by the International Court of Justice, can be carried out so openly.

The excuse was that the delegation had “deviated from the approved route.” This goes to show this was supposed to be a controlled and sanitised visit, and that the best of plans can come undone.

One must ask what is there to gain from shooting at diplomats? Simply that Israel doesn’t want the world to know about what it is doing and will go to any lengths to prevent it. There I no restraint except world opinion. Israel’s mentor the United States and the collective west act as the Israel’s gatekeepers. They do so even when their own representatives are shot at.

Hence the near silence over the latest atrocity. Donald Trump s happy to Insult the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and shake the hand of Ramaphosa’s Israeli counterpart Benyamin Netanyahu, who’s hands drip with the blood of murdered Palestinian children, women, and men, just for being born Palestinians.

The west leadership’s poor excuses for leaders do not represent the peoples of their nations. Public opinion is against continuing the support of the Israeli regime regardless of the cost.

Australia is included. Where is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese? Where is Foreign Minister Penny Wong? History will judge them harshly, for continuing to provide diplomatic cover and military support to the killers. They are not merely guilty of appeasement. appeasement. They are a willing part of Israel’s killing machine.

Photo by Lukas Coch/AAP: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

At least Wong has called Netanyahu’s recent disparaging comments about Palestinians and pending starvation as “abhorrent and outrageous.” And the Australian government has joined 23 other countries to call for an end to the blockade. Images of starving children is not a good look, and this is already creating political damage to the supporters of Israel.

Aid trucks trickle into Gaza while airstrikes continue

Video from The Guardian

Perhaps the Netanyahu administration is reaching the point where the world can stomach no more, and political expediency demands a re-assessment of the situation. The call for an end to military support and the suspension of trade with Israel is loud and clear.

The timely call by the General Delegation of Palestine in Australia on Wednesday urged the Albanese government to take “concrete action” should be taken notice of. They and others are calling on the Albanese government to take “concrete action” to in a much more solid way match what it does do to it says.