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“I went through hell”: What the released hostages say about their captivity
Returning hostages were forced to smile, shake hands with their captors and thank them publicly as part of Hamas’ propaganda. However, in one video a Hamas fighter is seen ordering captives to keep waving – and there are also reports that hostages were given tranquilisers prior to their release to make them appear happy.
Read MoreAIJAC deeply disappointed by dropping of investigation into Sydney hate-speech clerics
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today expressed its “deep disappointment” and “frustration” at the news that State and Federal police have dropped their investigations into hate speech by several clerics in southwest Sydney in the wake of the October 7 wave of mass-murder attacks in Israel.
Read MoreThe conflict between Israel and Hamas will continue to divide us, unless we risk face-to-face discussion
When I had to teach classes a few days after the 7 October Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians living next to the Gaza Strip, I did not want to go to the university. I knew people who had lost loved ones — children, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers — in the slaughter.
Read MoreAIJAC welcomes the passage of improved NSW race hate laws
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) welcomed the passage this week (November 30) of NSW laws to improve the prosecution process for the offence of publicly threatening or inciting violence against a person or a group based on their race, religion or other attributes.
Read MoreAIJAC questions handling of pro-Palestinian protestors ambushing visiting families of Israeli murder victims and hostages
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein has questioned the handling of an incident involving pro-Palestinian protestors who ambushed the families of Israeli murder victims and hostages at a Melbourne hotel last night.
Read MoreA powerless Hamas is the only way this war will end
An immediate, permanent ceasefire would therefore cost, not protect, innocent lives in the longer term. It would only defer those casualties until Hamas’ promised future rounds of warfare.
Read MoreNews reports whitewash the crimes of Palestinian prisoners being released
Some news reports have drawn an apparent moral equivalence between the completely innocent Israeli hostages and the Palestinian prisoners, including by whitewashing or downplaying the severity of the terror-related crimes many of the prisoners were found guilty of.
Read MoreThe silence about Hamas’ ongoing war crimes
One either cares about the principle of IHL adherence or one doesn’t. Anyone who is unable or unwilling to mention Hamas’ countless and ongoing violations of IHL at the same time as they express concern, well-founded or not, about Israel’s conduct clearly belongs in the latter category.
Read MoreA permanent ceasefire now would be a victory for Hamas
A permanent ceasefire would be a terrible idea, at least for the time being. It would not end the conflict but prolong it. It would end up costing more lives, because it would effectively mean Hamas survives, and no longer has to fear Israeli action to prevent it repeating its attacks.
Read MoreAIJAC applauds Federal Government’s announcement of Nazi salute ban
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today applauded the Federal Government’s announcement that it will introduce legislation this week to ban the Nazi salute in Australia – making it a criminal offence under Commonwealth law.
Read MoreMisguided claims underpin journalists’ anti-Israel open letter – Colin Rubenstein on Sky News
Sky News’ Chris Kenny interviews AIJAC’s Colin Rubenstein about journalists signing an anti-Israel open letter.
Read MoreHamas is using hospitals to commit “acts harmful to the enemy”
When Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Israel must stop “attacking” hospitals, she is wrong as a factual, legal and moral matter. Israel is attacking Hamas, and Hamas, like the PLO before it, is using hospitals to commit acts harmful to the enemy. This forces Israel to act against these Hamas terrorists, even as it does everything required of it by international law, and more, to protect and aid civilians in the vicinity.
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