In the Face of Genocide: If Albo Won’t Sanction Israel, We Can

Israel's genocide in Gaza is horrorifying. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them women and children. Whole families have been erased. Hospitals, schools, bakeries, toilets and fresh water supplies have been systematically destroyed. UN experts, many countries, humanitarian organisations, and legal scholars are calling it what it is: genocide.

While the UK, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, Ireland, and Spain are imposing sanctions, Australia’s Government is taking no meaningful action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have called for a ceasefire. But words are not enough. Israel is systematically bombing innocent people - even children in their schools. Australia has a Responsibility to Protect.

And while Gaza starves under siege, Israel is earning over $900 million per annum from its exports to Australia. Our economic ties are helping to fund the genocide! There are no sanctions or suspensions coming from Albo or Penny Wong.

But if our leaders won’t act, we can!

Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in. When governments fail to uphold international law and human rights, we citizens have a responsibility to step up.

Boycotts aren’t new. They helped end apartheid in South Africa. They’ve been used to pressure companies over tobacco, fossil fuels, and unethical labour. They’re not everything - but they’re something. And right now, doing something is better than nothing.

Five 'Boycott Israel' Products in Australia

If you want to act against genocide in Gaza, here are five products and companies to avoid:

🔹 Medjool Dates

Sold in Australian supermarkets under brands like Jordan River, these dates are exported by Israeli company Hadiklaim which farms on occupied Palestinian land.

🔹 SodaStream

Formerly manufactured in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Although they've moved their factory, they're still Israeli.

🔹 Caltex (owned by Chevron)

Chevron operates gas fields for Israel right off the coast of Gaza. This provides a major revenue stream to Israel's military. In Australia, Chevron owns Caltex and Puma fuel stations. So fill up at non-Chevron servos where you can.

🔹 Hewlett-Packard (HP)

HP supplies biometric systems and technologies used in Israel’s ID and surveillance operations in the West Bank. Although no major tech company is fully ethical, some are less bad than others. And Hewlett-Packard is one of the worst.

🔹 Caterpillar

Their bulldozers are used by Israeli forces to demolish Palestinian homes. You probably won’t be buying a bulldozer anytime soon, but if your company or council is, ask questions.

A Final Word

This isn’t about antisemitism or supporting Hamas extremism. It’s about humanity and accountability. Many Jewish people, like Miriam Margolyes, are bravely standing up.

Boycotts are one tool. So are protests, petitions, political pressure, and acts of solidarity. We must use them all. Especially when Australia's government is keeping it's head in the sand.

Doing nothing is complicity.