Palestine

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:49): I have used matters of interest to speak about Palestine many times since I was sworn into the parliament. I hoped to speak about something else today, but this morning newly elected President Donald Trump held a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. What was said in this press conference and the ramifications of those words sent shockwaves in the community. I often use my matters of interest to try to reflect the views of the communities that I represent, and I know that what I say today will reflect their fear.

I was recently reminded by friends from the brilliant Glimmer of Hope organisation of the importance of speaking the truth and that the conflict between Palestine and Israel is not only physical, it is also a conflict of narratives. When powerful figures spread misinformation, it is important to stand up and say the truth.

In today's joint press conference, the US President stated that the US would take over the Gaza Strip. He said, and I quote directly, 'We will own it.' He said he envisaged a long-term US ownership of Gaza after the Palestinians moved elsewhere. At the end of the conference, he speculated that Gaza could become the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. He did not rule out sending American troops to make this happen. When asked about whether Palestinians would have the right to return to Gaza if they left during reconstruction, he said, 'Why would they want to return? The place has been hell.'

He has suggested that Palestinians should go to other countries and claimed that the only reason they would want to return to Gaza is that they have no other alternative. Before the press conference, he sat down with reporters and said that the Palestinians had no choice but to permanently leave Gaza as a result of the devastation caused by the war. He said that Palestinians would love to leave Gaza.

Asked how many people he believed should be resettled from Gaza, President Trump replied, 'All of them.' I know what the community will be thinking in response to this. It is support for the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from their homeland from one of the world's largest superpowers. Palestinians want to stay in their homeland. They want to live in peace. The Israeli state has demonstrated over and over again that they do not believe international law applies to them. If no-one is willing to stand up to them, then that belief will become the truth.

Regardless of how many of these plans become a reality, this has set the tone for the future of Gaza and the future of the Palestinian state. President Trump has already indicated that he may also review the American position on Israel's claim to the West Bank. This goes directly against the two-state solution, which Australia and much of the international community supports. This is not a step in the direction of peace.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza, thanked President Trump and told him, and I quote, 'You are the best friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. All this in just two weeks, one can only imagine where we will be in four years.'

For 15 months the Gaza Strip has been decimated. For over 70 years the Palestinians have been denied their right of return to their homeland. They have been denied this right through explicit violence and a campaign of terror. In response to today's press conference, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said, 'Our homeland is our homeland, if part of it is destroyed the Palestinian people selected the choice to return to it. And I think that leaders and people should respect the wishes of the Palestinian people.'

Since the news of the ceasefire, we have seen videos of thousands of people walking back through destroyed neighbourhoods to return to their homes and villages. We have seen videos of people reuniting with their loves ones, collapsing in tears of joy. We have seen videos of people falling to their knees and kissing the ground. Gaza is their home; even if destroyed, even if flattened, it is owned by the Palestinians.