Where’s Magnitsky? Heat rises on Albo to match words with actions, sanction Israel

Following the march of humanity at the Sydney Harbor Bridge, public pressure for sanctions on Israel is increasing on war crimes in Gaza. Stephanie Tran Reports.

In one of the biggest protests in the history of our country, hundreds of thousands of Australians walked at the Sydney Harbor Bridge at the weekend.

It was a striking demonstration of public anger so that the government could not take a meaningful action to stop the genocide in Gaza. Nevertheless, despite the open public support for the decisive action, the Albanian government has done very little beyond the publication of statements.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanian Israel violating international law By blocking food deliveries to the region and Participated 28 world leaders wanted Israel to end the Gaza War.

But Australia continues Supply key components Israel continues to profit defense contracts worth billions of dollars with arms manufacturers and for the f – 35 fighter aircraft Rafael Advanced Defense Systems And Elbit Systems.

“Videos as a sales speech”. Rafael, Human tests in Gaza death camps

Russia – Double standard in sanctions

Australia imposed more than 1,400 sanctions on Russia because it occupied Ukraine, but only a dozen to Israel.

The Greens, a Russian -style sanction regime targeting Israel 50 million dollars exportsHe emphasizes that Australia’s exports to Israel exports to Israel, but wider measures will be necessary.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge said, “The Albanian government has been told for months, international law experts, human rights groups and millions of Australians have to have the Israeli government to have the Israeli government and end a two -way weapon trade,” he said.

“In the case of Russia, Australia applied harsh and appropriate sanctions that stop the export of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine. In the case of Israel, you are trying to convince people that the pieces for warrior jets are ‘non -fatal’ and you have tried to fulfill the task of a comprehensive sanction of the Prime Minister.

“International law experts, even with these sanctions, clearly stated that Australia will need to be done more to fulfill its obligations within the scope of international law.

Call for more sanctions on Israel

The illegal of the International Court of Justice in July 2024, the occupation of Israel’s Palestinian territory, Australia Limited sanctions implemented Seven Israeli settlers who participated in violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Government in June 2025 Expanded sanctions Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben – to include Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for encouraging violence against Palestinians.

However, international law experts argue that a more comprehensive approach is needed, including the use of the Magnitsky Sanctions of Australia against senior Israeli officials.

Australia has the power to give such measures. Autonomic sanctions law 2011It gives the government the authority to impose the targeted finance, trade and travel sanctions independent of the United Nations.

In 2021, the parliament strengthened by adopting these powers. Magnitsky style changesTo provide sanctions to Australia to individuals and organizations responsible for serious human rights violations and corruption.

According to Benedict Coyne, an international human rights lawyer, these laws have already been used against the Russian officials after the occupation of Ukraine and should now be applied to senior Israeli leaders.

“In 2022, Australia used the laws of Magnitsky for the first time and approved a person accused of serious corruption and violations of human rights. Australia may apply and apply Magnitsky sanctions to the responsible Israeli government and military leaders, especially those who adopt genocide retorics.”

Australia may apply and apply political, diplomatic and economic sanctions to Israel instantly.

Coyne also argues that trade restrictions should be applied to ensure that Australia is not a criminal partner in the ongoing attack on Gaza.

“Australia should reject any trade from Israel and stop all aid and export licenses, including weapons, F – 35 fighter aircraft parts and double -use components,”.

Australia once led to sanctions

During the 1980s Apartheid campaign against South Africa, Prime Minister Bob Hawke instrumental He leads Commonwealth in the implementation of financial sanctions against the regime. Hawke after reflected At the turning point, he explains:

“Trade sanctions were not working, so if we could boycott foreign investment in South Africa, we could end it.

Coyne emphasized this event as an example of Australia’s historical leadership on sanctions.

Bob There is a precedent for this. In the 1980s, Bob Hawke, even against Margaret Thatcher, who was not comfortable to impose these sanctions against Apartheid South Africa, led the government of the government of the government. And won. Nelson Mandela then attributed these sanctions as a key factor in ending aparheid. ”

Red Lines Package

In addition to sanctions, there are calls to ensure that Australia is not economically dependent on the actions of genocide or war crimes. In the center of this push Red Lines PackageThree invoice sets prepared for reproduction this year with potentially broader cross support support.

The package will bring critical legal measures to prevent businesses and the government from supporting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The package contains three invoices:

• Defense exports, genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity and the minister of Defense are linked to the requirements of the situation detection.
• A bill that stops the future fund and Australian charities from investing in businesses supporting illegal reconciliation activities.
• A bill that enables Australian state institutions, large companies and enterprises participating in weapons production to disclose supply chains and not to contribute to the genocide.

MWM He understands that the invoices are now reviewed and strengthened before being re -introduced.

Fatima Payman, Australia’s voice senator, said the package is about giving a moral compass to the parliament.

I hope the government will develop moral courage to do what needs to be done.

“We were waiting and counting for two years. What should you see more? We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to it anymore. Silence is deafening. Only too many people can.”

Obligation to act legal action

International Court of Justice in January 2024 (ICJ) ruled Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute a “reasonable genocide”. ICJ’s finding is important, because it does not require proof of genocide beyond reasonable suspicion, but rather accepts that there is a serious risk of genocide, a threshold that activates the obligations of the states within the scope of international law.

More than one human rights organization, including International Amnesty International– Human Rights Monitoring Organizationand the prominent Genocide AcademiciansIsrael said that the uncompromising targeting and the deliberate hunger of the Palestinian population meets several indicators of the genocide intention.

Australia, Genocide agreementA treaty arising from the persecution of Holocaust. Article 1 of the Convention not only punishes the genocide after occurs, but also forces it to actively prevent it. This is known as this due diligence obligation; States should use all tools reasonable to prevent genocide.

According to Rawan Arraf, Australia International Justice CenterThe ICJ decision has practical consequences for Australia.

“This decision is demanding concrete steps that Australia must take. The government should immediately review the economic ties with Israel and impose targeted sanctions. All defense industry partnerships should be suspended and a two -way weapon embargo should be applied.

Not taking such steps is at the risk of being a criminal partner in the serious violations of Australia’s international law.

Why reluctance?

So why did the Albanian government resisted a comprehensive sanction regime? Shoebridge argues that the alliance with the United States is a key factor within the scope of the Aukus agreement of Australia.

“Australia’s international relations, especially when it comes to Israel and Palestine, there is a elephant in the room and it is called AUKUS,” he said. “A large part of Aukus is to integrate Australia’s army and industrial and research base with the United States. Therefore, it is not comfortable to stop the arms trade with Israel, who is concerned about the US reaction.

“The Australians are looking for a winning solution here that enables us to cancel Aukus and take a meaningful step towards independence by ending the arms trade with Israel,” he said.

“Unfortunately, Albanian and modern labor progressed to the right in defense and went deep into Trump’s new America, and they lost his contact with the public.”

I hope the demonstration of humanity on the Sydney Harbor Bridge may remind them who they represent them.

Harbor Bridge Marching after the Bridge March -wide protests