Australian Senator Mehreen Faruqi led protests at the national parliament calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
As deputy leader of the Australian Greens, Faruqi says she brings “people’s protests to Parliament”.
With 11 senators, the Greens are part of Australia’s upper house, but the party’s calls for a ceasefire have been opposed by Australia’s center-left Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Albanese’s government has changed little in its position since abstaining from a U.N. General Assembly vote calling for a humanitarian truce last month.
Al Jazeera spoke to Faruqi about support for a ceasefire in Australia and the potential she sees for a change in the Australian government’s position.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Al Jazeera: The Greens have called for a ceasefire vote in the Australian Senate. What is currently preventing a vote from taking place?
Mehreen Faruqi: The Greens pushed for a vote in the Senate calling for a ceasefire, but the Labor government and Liberal-National opposition united to oppose it. This shows how blatantly they ignore the atrocities in Gaza.
The morally bankrupt major parties would like us to remain silent so that their cowardice is not exposed. But the Australian Greens and I will not shut up and sit quietly in Parliament while the government presents pathetic spins on serious issues regarding justice for Palestine.
Al Jazeera: You and your Green colleagues have organized protests at the Australian Senate, including boycotting Question Time. What made you take these steps?
Mehreen Faruqi: I proudly led the Greens’ demonstration in the Senate calling for a ceasefire and a boycott of Question Time. I know we speak for so many people in the community.
Today the @Green vegetables We proudly took the people’s protest to Parliament as we boycotted Question Time after Labor once again refused to call for a ceasefire.
Like millions of Australians, we are shocked, horrified and angered by Israel’s massacre of almost 10,000 people in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/eJPZcoXndN
– Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) November 6, 2023
I will unapologetically continue to use my parliamentary platform to call for a ceasefire, an end to the occupation of Palestine and the right of Palestinians to self-determination.
For me, there is no point in being here in Parliament if we remain silent in times of such grave injustice. We must be stronger and stronger.
Al Jazeera: Do you think the Australian government’s position on a humanitarian truce reflects that of the Australian people?
Mehreen Faruqi: Not joining the vast majority of countries in calling for a truce was an utterly disgraceful and disgraceful stance on the part of the Australian Government.
Calling for a humanitarian truce is the bare minimum and they can’t even do that.
Tens of thousands of people have marched across Australia every weekend since the attacks on Gaza began, demanding peace in the region and demanding that the Australian government call Israel for a ceasefire.
The decision to ignore thousands and thousands of Palestinian and allied votes shows the Australian government’s complete disregard for the very people who trusted it when they elected them.
People will not forget this betrayal. History will not look kindly on the government’s actions.
Al Jazeera: How involved is the Australian government in Israel’s war in Gaza? Is it possible that members of the Australian government could be held responsible for this involvement?
Mehreen Faruqi: Australia has one of the most secretive arms trades in the world, but we know that hundreds of military shipments have been exported to Israel in recent years.
As far as I am concerned, our country is involved in the bloody massacre of more than 10,000 people and it is not over.
Israel commits war crimes and subjects Palestinians to collective punishment. The Australian government should immediately stop military exports to Israel.
But more importantly, Australia is part of a small group of Western countries that continue to shield Israel from accountability, not only for this invasion of Gaza but throughout the 75 years of occupation of Palestine.
It is no surprise that Israel behaves so monstrously when it knows that the governments of countries like Australia will support it, no matter how brutal and oppressive they may be.
Al Jazeera: The Greens hold 11 seats in the Australian Senate. What can the Greens do from this position regarding Australia’s participation in this conflict?
Mehreen Faruqi: The Greens bring to Parliament the voice of the majority of those demanding justice and peace in Australia. This is powerful in many ways. This shows the community that there is someone in the highest office in the land who listens to them and has the courage to take a principled stand. They know someone is with them. It also keeps pressure on the government to call for a ceasefire and an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
Like millions of people around the world, I am horrified by Israel’s lack of accountability. Failing to call for a ceasefire while thousands of children are being massacred in Gaza is cruel and shameful. Our government may be complicit, but the people are on the side of justice for Palestine.
I walk side by side with tens of thousands of people in the streets across Australia and speak at these protests.
It was time to bring these people’s protests to Parliament so that the government would be obliged to respond to their calls one way or another.