TRANSCRIPT
Anna Henderson:
Many countries across the world and their leaders have condemned the actions of Hamas. Do you condemn the actions of Hamas?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
I think this is a repetitive question all the time by a journalist, and it's not about condemnation. It's about showing leadership and political will of the international community to actively, effectively intervene in this complex struggle between Aslan, Israel and Israel. And I think also either the public or the international community countries don't understand well, the historical context of this conflict, starting of the century of 2030s. And then actually in 1948 when more than 800,000 Palestinians were expelled, ethnic, cleansed from their own land, 500 villages destroyed by the Israelis. And then we have the occupation of the remaining part of Palestine in 1967, and the occupation continued until now transforming to apartheid system discrimination against the Palestinians. And the most important problem is the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We have now more than 800,000 settlers in Palestine, confiscating lands living in the Palestinian land where the Palestinian state should be established. And this is a big obstacle in front of the peace process or finding solution between us and the Israelis. And it's illegal by international law. So it is a historical issues lead to this situation. The failure of the international community to find a solution and open a political process in this area leads to such a situation. The failure to implement international law, hundreds of United Nation resolution will lead to this event to power and naked power and to violence.
Anna Henderson:
Okay, but I don't disagree with you. This is a continuum and both sides have committed very serious atrocities over many years. But when you look at the individual attack, the indiscriminate killing of civilians, the taking of hostages that Hamas has perpetrated over the last 24 hours, what is your response to that?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Look, I mean, we are, as Palestinians and Palestinian government are against killing civilians from both sides. But I think the international community should be fair and also condemn the killing of thousands of Palestinians on daily basis. Every day as a journalist, you hear about killing Palestinians, young people there in the street, extra judiciary, assassination of people, checkpoints all the time, arresting children from their house after the midnight. So as Palestinians, we don't feel that there is a fair assessment, evaluation of the situation Palestine by Western countries. Unfortunately, there's more support to Israel and more support to Palestinians. What we ask for is a sort of balance, even handed policy from this western country towards the Palestinian people. So when you ask Palestinians about condemnation, not condemnation, whatever, maybe you don't feel it, but Palestinians feel that it's not fair. Just, I mean, to differentiate in your condemnation between Palestinians and Israelis.
Anna Henderson:
Can I ask, in terms of what happens now and already we're seeing action in Gaza, civilians who are being killed, the power and water potentially turned off very soon, hasn't Hamas just basically undertaken action which will lead to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Look, I'm not here to say who's responsible, whatever. I can, I mean, assess the situation for you that it's a complex, it's difficult and the agendas objectives of different stakeholders. What I can say is no different stakeholders use Palestinians for their own agendas.
Anna Henderson:
So what do you think is the reality for the people of Gaza over the coming days? What are you expecting to happen?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
It'll be a hell, unfortunately. I mean, I expect hundreds of Palestinian people will die in Gaza. This is a big tragedy. And I hope because of that, to avoid this and to avoid more escalation in the situation, that international community, including Australia, to intervene quickly, effectively, promptly to just stop such a massacre in Gaza Strip. You can't believe the revenge of Israelis in this process. I think we can compete with the Israeli artillery and it's the fourth army in the war. So God knows what will happen to GA's people in the coming days.
Anna Henderson:
Penny Wong, Australia's foreign minister has spoken publicly about this. Has she reached out to you? Have you had any contact with the government or with the Department of Foreign Affairs?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Unfortunately not. We did not receive any phone call from Penny Wong.
Anna Henderson:
She's urging the exercise of restraint.
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Yeah.
Anna Henderson:
But what do you want the Australian government to do when you talk about the role they can play in the international community?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Yeah, I think this is a good statement to talk about restraint. And also I appreciate the position of Australia, talk about the protection of civilians, of Palestinian civilians. This is really a good position of Australia. I want this discourse to continue. And Australia have a lot of avenues to do something like in multilateral forums. They can talk in the United Nations, they can talk to the United States. Israel is a friend of Australia. Australia can talk to Israel to deescalate and restrain any sort of difficult assault on Gaza. And of course Australia has a good relation with Asan. It’s my neighbors, Indonesia. Ja. So I think, and of course Australia has a say in the G 20. So there is a lot of multilateral opinions and bilateral talks, I mean to different parties, stakeholders that Australia could play
Anna Henderson:
Because there is discussion about whether or not Iran has helped to create this situation, the likelihood that Hezbollah is involved. What do you say to those claims?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Of course, I mean this is an aspect, but it's the simplest analysis because you can't … also the local aspect of it, usually local aspects has this regional bring, this regional escalation. You can't ignore at all the impact of long-term commission on Palestine and the religious feelings, the aa, the settlements, the killings of Palestinian people, persecution, discrimination among others. So local aspect is important, but of course it'll be used by regional powers.
Anna Henderson:
We've already seen some Palestinian protests in Australia. What's your message to the community and do you hold any fear that this could become an issue, which does become an issue potentially, of some kind of conflict beyond words in this country?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
It's very tense now with the Palestinian community, Arab Islamic community here. I mean Islamic community organization including Mufti, Aims council, whatever issue. The statement about this. You can't also ignore these feelings of the Arabs, Muslims, Palestinian community here because it's a long-term occupation for them. They think maybe the Australian government is biased towards the Jewish Israeli organization here, Jewish lobby and the Jewish community and all these things. So I think Australia should be very careful in addressing this issue because you have 1 million Muslim here who's really very supportive to Palestinian people. I don't think there will be a conflict. I think there is very strong rationale, reasonable representatives of the Muslim community here who are very proud Australians and they will support the interests of Australia in this context. But of course, it's a multicultural society, it's a free democracy. And all representatives or communities could express their own views. I hope that the relationship between Jewish community and Palestinian community, Arab Muslim community will continue as good as it is now. And just every party can express their own point. If you use peacefully.
Anna Henderson:
Do you see a situation where Australian peacekeeping forces, or we know that there are Australian forces in the region involved in broader peacekeeping, do you see a situation where it would be valuable for them to potentially become more involved? Very
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Much so. I think Australia has a long record, I mean of peacekeeping forces in the region in Sai and even in Jerusalem. They have an office, the peacekeeping forces, we have two generals now, Australians in Jerusalem. And I think this is very good suggestion of Australia to interfere in this process. And actually this is our own proposal for a long time in which to bring peacekeeping forces to Palestine, to the Jordanian Valley, to the borders between us and Jordan, to also respond to the Israeli security issues, including Australia forces, also NATO or Americans. I mean, we are asking all these groups to come to provide protection to Palestinian people and to keep a sort of peaceful borders between us and Israelis. So this is a very good idea, I think. And Australia has the capacity and mandate to do something like this.
Anna Henderson:
Should Hamas release the hostages?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
I think this is based on the negotiations between them. And look, we should also recognize that we have more than 6,000 prisoners in Israeli prisons. And also this is one reason of Hamas saying that they have these hostages to work on Schwa process to release also the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli presence. So it's a complex issue, this hostage issue because also we have prisoners in the Palestinians presence and the Israeli presence. Sorry,
Anna Henderson:
Do you think the Australian government, the current Australian government under Anthony Albanese, is showing bias towards Israel?
Izzat Abdulhadi:
Look, I mean looking to their own record for the last one year, it's not actually. They have a sort even handed policy support to stay solution occupied territories. They recognize state of Palestine, whatever. I think we are very happy, I mean, to engage. And community is happy to engage in a process with Australian government to continue convince them to recognize the state of Palestine as substantial investment contribution to the peace process in the Middle East. So yes, I think there's a shape policy change towards Israel Palestine conflict, right? I'm to be an honest broker and this will continue.
