Embassy of the State of Palestine

On 28 August, the Chargé d’Affaires of the State of Palestine and Embassy staff welcomed Mr Mohamed Duar, Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson, and Mr Andrew Witheford, International and Crisis Lead, from Amnesty International Australia to the Palestinian Embassy in Canberra.

The Embassy expressed appreciation for Amnesty’s steadfast and principled advocacy in support of Palestinian human rights, dignity, and justice.

Discussions focused on the dire situation in Gaza and the urgent priority of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire, as well as ensuring unfettered humanitarian aid access at scale.

Other key topics discussed included:

• Australia’s upcoming recognition of the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly session in September.
• Amnesty’s research and reports concluding that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and that the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza constitutes a deliberate Israeli policy.
• Israel’s targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists, including Anas Al-Sharif, who received Amnesty International Australia’s Human Rights Defender Award in 2024 for his extraordinary resilience, bravery, and commitment to press freedom.
• The financial strangulation of the Palestinian Government through Israel’s unlawful withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues.
• The essential and irreplaceable humanitarian role and mandate of UNRWA, which remains a critical lifeline for millions of Palestinians in urgent need of services and support.
• The pressing need for the Australian Government to adopt more humane and appropriate visa policies for Palestinians seeking safety and family reunification in Australia.
• The importance of providing urgent international protection for the Palestinian people.