UPDATE: We Australian creators of books for children/young adults and our supporters in the industry are appalled by Israel's genocide in Gaza. We have spoken out publicly, quietly, but Israel's attacks in Gaza have become even more dire. For 22 months, we have witnessed via our screens endless horrific images of Gazan children and their families dying in Israeli Occupation Force’s missile attacks, and now their deliberate starvation tactics, another war crime.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Australia must, as a nation, take stronger action.

Therefore: We, the undersigned petitioners demand Prime Minister Albanese, MPs and Senators stand up for our Australian values. Have the courage to demand humanitarian action. Pressure Israel into ending its genocide in Gaza and their Israeli settlers' death-mob attacks against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories of West Bank and East Jerusalem.

WE URGE OUR GOVERNMENT TO:

• ALLOW urgent FOOD AID through Israel's blockades! Allow honest food aid agencies to distribute it, not mercenaries from Israel/US.
• IMPOSE immediate SANCTIONS on the Zionist-led government of Israel, its politicians and army, and all those responsible for the Gazan genocide.
• PROTEST STRONGLY at Israel's MASS STARVATION in Gaza, and their deliberate preventing of water access.
• PROTEST STRONGLY to the ISRAELI AMBASSADOR, and if Israel ignores Australia's request, EXPEL HIM.
• STOP AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS OF WEAPON PARTS and DRONES TO ISRAEL via the U.S. 
• JOIN the courageous Western nations who've taken diplomatic actions against Israel.
• RECOGNISE PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD as a positive step towards regional peace.

As story creators, we care deeply about young people and their futures, including the children of Palestine.  For the sake of the children of Gaza and their families, SIGN THIS PETITION and SHARE IT WIDELY.

What else can you do? Write to Prime Minister Albanese and your Federal member of parliament. Join a Palestinian support rally in your city, or organise one in your regional town. Fly the Palestinian flag.

Follow your instincts and your hearts. Be brave, and speak out. Israel has no right to ethnic-cleanse and destroy the Palestinian people, nor to steal their lands.

It is not anti-Semitic to want to end the slaughter. As the Jewish Council of Australia says – LET GAZA LIVE.