International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in Canberra
On 20 November, the General Delegation of Palestine commemorated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at Australian Parliament House in Canberra. This important annual event was organised in partnership with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Palestine, and the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Australia.
Main Committee Room, Australian Parliament House
Nearly 200 attendees participated in the event, including federal and state parliamentarians, senators, members of the international diplomatic corps, advocacy groups, labour unions, community and faith-based organisations, as well as academics, students, and members of the Palestinian and Arab communities. The large number of participants was a strong and tangible indication of the ever-increasing support for Palestinian rights and solidarity with the Palestinian people in these most difficult times.
The program commenced with opening remarks by Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP (Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine), followed by speeches delivered by Senator Jordan Steele-John (foreign affairs spokesperson for the Greens Party) and Mr Damian Cardona Onses (Director of UNIC). The keynote address, delivered by Professor Amin Saikal AM FASSA, delved into the historical and political dimensions of the Palestinian struggle broadly and the current catastrophic crisis in Gaza specifically. Speeches followed by H.E. Mr Milad Raad (Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors and Ambassador of Lebanon), H.E. Mr Hani Mohamed Nagi Abdelhamid (Chair of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation/OIC Heads of Mission Group in Canberra and Ambassador of Egypt), and H.E. Dr Izzat Abdulhadi (Ambassador of the State of Palestine).
In his speech, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine acknowledged the steadfastness and resilience of the Palestinian people, who continue to persist in their just struggle for self-determination, justice, and freedom despite enduring immense suffering and loss. He emphasised that it is not naïve optimism to assert that the rights of the Palestinian people will be realised, but a realistic prospect based on significant and encouraging recent regional/global developments. Examples included recent international legal and diplomatic milestones such as the 19 July 2024 ICJ Advisory Opinion and the establishment of the “International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution”.
The Ambassador commended Australian civil society organisations and the Palestinian community for their tireless advocacy, noting that the Australian public increasingly supports Palestinian rights. He urged ongoing effective engagement with the Australian government to guarantee a just and principled position towards Palestinian rights in alignment with international law and international legitimacy, which includes imposing a full arms embargo on Israel, the occupying power, and recognising the State of Palestine without further delay. He concluded by emphasising that now is the time to act collectively and courageously to ensure the protection, wellbeing, and rights of the Palestinian people, which have been denied for far too long.
Live musical renditions of evocative songs including Mawtini and Zahrat El Mada’En were performed intermittently by Ayşe Göknur Shanal (Soprano), accompanied by Majdi Aljelda (oud) and Seraj Aljelda (percussion) who are both recent arrivals to Australia from Gaza City, and Zak Partoredjo (guitar).
Ambassador of the State Palestine delivers his speech
Keynote speech by Professor Amin Saikal
Speech by Senator Jordan Steele-John (Greens)
Left to right: Ambassador of Lebanon, Seraj Aljelda (percussion), Majdi Aljelda (oud), Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Ayse Gӧknur Shanal (soprano), Zak Partoredjo (guitar)
