Israel-Lebanon Conflict

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:32): My plan today was to speak about the Lebanese Film Festival and the wonderful work of the Arabic Language and Culture Association of South Australia. I would still like to take a moment to congratulate them and thank them for all the opportunities they provide for us to share and celebrate our beautiful culture. Unfortunately, however, I will be using the rest of this speech to talk about the situation unfolding in Lebanon. Let me be very clear from the beginning: I do not condone any form of violence or terror against any civilians, regardless of what side of the border they live on.

On 17 September, pagers exploded simultaneously across Lebanon. Explosives were planted inside 5,000 pagers which were reportedly distributed to Hezbollah. Twelve people were killed, including two children. Three thousand people were injured, and most of these injuries were horrific, mainly to the eyes and limbs. There were no precautions taken to make sure the pagers were not in public places where they could cause harm to innocent people. They exploded in homes, supermarkets, cars, offices and many other public areas.

A day later, 14 people were killed and 45 injured by more explosions of handheld devices, including walkie-talkies. Once again, the attack was not selective in its targets. It did not discriminate between soldier and civilian. For many people in Lebanon, this sort of attack confirms our worst fears: that we are not seen as human beings but as collateral damage. UN experts have called these attacks a 'terrifying violation of international law'.

On Monday 23 September, Israel launched the deadliest attack on Lebanon since the 2006 war. They fired air strikes into southern Lebanon and a suburb of Beirut, and in one night at least 500 people, including 35 children, were killed, and over 1,000 were wounded. There have been air strikes every day since.

Thousands of families have evacuated the south, seeking safety in other regions of Lebanon, including the north, where I am from and where my family still lives. According to the Lebanese health minister, 28,000 people have already been displaced from the south. The school year has just started in Lebanon. My niece and nephew, who are 10 years old, were so excited to show me their new school bags and lunchboxes for the year ahead. Now those schools will serve as refugee camps for the displaced.

The Prime Minister of Israel said in a televised message: 'I have a message for the people of Lebanon: Israel's war is not with you.' He is urging Lebanese people to get out of the way. They make it sound simple, as if they are asking people to evacuate a building, but the attacks have already hit hospitals, medical centres and residential buildings, and it is impossible for many civilians to know if they live in an area that will be targeted.

They are saying, 'If you are killed by Israeli air strikes it is not our fault—it is yours.' This gaslighting is shameful. They said the same thing to the people of Gaza. They told them, 'Flee South to Khan Younis.' Then they attacked Khan Younis and they told them, 'Flee to Rafah.' Then they attacked Rafah and there was nowhere left for people to go.

At the latest count, more than 41,000 people have been killed in Gaza. It has been a year of unimaginable human loss. So when the Israeli government assures us that this war is not with the Lebanese people, no Lebanese person will believe it—not the citizens of Lebanon, not the Lebanese community in Adelaide, and not me.

It was not impossible to see what is happening in Lebanon coming. I have feared this escalation for almost a year now, as have many others. For many of us, what is happening now seemed like it would be inevitable if the state of Israel was not held to account for their actions in Gaza and their breaking of international humanitarian law. The same playbook used in Gaza is now being used in Lebanon. When is enough enough?

To my Lebanese community here in Australia and in Lebanon, but especially in Adelaide, I offer my sincere and unequivocal support to you in these dark times. I hope and I pray that your loved ones and families are safe.