Credit: <\/span>Chris Hopkins\/The Age<\/cite><\/p>\nAn email sent to the group\u2019s members on Friday afternoon said: \u201cWe will hold a gathering for peace to commemorate the people of Gaza and stand in solidarity with grieving Palestinian Victorians who have lost so many loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group includes some Labor, Greens and other left-leaning crossbench MPs from the Legalise Cannabis and Animal Justice parties.<\/p>\n
No one from the opposition is a member, but upper house Liberal MP Nick McGowan has attended meetings and told The Age<\/i> he had received almost 900 emails from constituents concerned about the escalating crisis in Gaza and calling for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n
The conflict has forced politicians to balance demands within their electorates against federal policies, without inflaming anxieties. This has been felt most keenly by government MPs who represent electorates with a high proportion of Muslims due to the country\u2019s cautious support of Israel\u2019s right to defend itself after the October 7 terror attack. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has stressed that has limits and this week called on Israel to cease attacks on hospitals.<\/p>\n
Halfpenny last month told state parliament that Gaza was being \u201cstrangled\u201d, while Broadmeadows MP Kathleen Matthews-Ward and Tarneit MP Dylan Wight both called for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Other Victorian Labor MPs are expected to deliver private members\u2019 statements this sitting week.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are asking for that from their MPs, even state MPs,\u201d one MP said, on condition of anonymity to speak frankly.<\/p>\n
Premier Jacinta Allan called on Saturday called for unity after a heated confrontation between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups in Caulfield on Friday night led to the evacuation of a nearby synagogue.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll communities have the right to come together to grieve and support each other and everyone has a right to peaceful protest, but not at the expense of the safety of others,\u201d Allan said.<\/p>\n
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll is also leading a new social cohesion cabinet subcommittee, which met for the first time on Monday.<\/p>\n
Hamas captured more than 200 hostages in southern Israel on October 7 in a terror attack that left about 1200 people dead. Israel launched an assault on Gaza in response that has killed more than 11,000 people, including more than 4500 children, the Gaza health ministry said.<\/p>\n
Halfpenny told parliament last month she had been contacted by more than 1000 residents and community leaders \u201cin extreme distress\u201d. She represents Thomastown, in the northern suburbs, where 15 per cent of people follow Islam, according to the 2021 census.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are asking me why they are not hearing any condemnation of Israeli action against civilians in Gaza. Many have families there. One man has already lost 11 members of his family,\u201d she told parliament on October 31.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe every life is precious. I condemn the senseless killing of Palestinians and of Israelis, and I am appalled by Hamas\u2019 heinous attacks and kidnapping of innocent people. The onslaught on Gaza has now taken more innocent lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, Gaza is being strangled, and it seems the world right now has lost its humanity. This is a human tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthews-Ward, the member for Broadmeadows, where 38.6 per cent of people are Muslim, last month called for a ceasefire and condemned both Hamas and the killing of civilians in Gaza.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe terrorist organisation Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people. The Israeli government does not speak for all Jewish people,\u201d she said in her private members\u2019 statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI condemn all acts that do not fit within international law. I call for an immediate ceasefire from both sides, immediate access to aid and an immediate release of hostages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wight, who represents Tarneit in the outer-west, said the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists could not justify the attacks against Palestinian civilians. He said the pain and anguish in the Arabic community was palpable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stand with the Palestinian people and condemn the killing of innocent civilians and children in Gaza. As I do so, I also condemn the terrorist organisation Hamas for the atrocities that it has committed against the people of Israel,\u201d Wight told parliament earlier this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe international community and the Australian government must advocate for a ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some MPs have had to front branch meetings where members were unhappy with the federal government\u2019s response.<\/p>\n
Maria Vamvakinou, the federal member for Calwell in Melbourne\u2019s northern suburbs, has publicly called for an immediate ceasefire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and clearly breaches of international humanitarian law,\u201d Vamvakinou told The Age<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Other left-leaning parties from the Greens and Victorian Socialists have sought to wedge Labor on the issue, criticising the federal government\u2019s stance at a Free Palestine rally on Sunday in front of an estimated 45,000 people.<\/p>\n
Peter Khalil, the federal Labor member for Wills, last month had a rally of 100 pro-Palestine protesters show up outside his Coburg office. Another rally is expected to go past his office this Saturday.<\/p>\n
Victorian Labor delegates at the June state conference passed a motion that called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to recognise a Palestinian state this term of parliament. The Australian Israel & Jewish Affairs Council condemned the motion.<\/p>\n
Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Politics<\/h2>\nFrom our partners<\/h3>\n
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