STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms AMBIHAIPAHAR (Barton) (13:37): I rise to acknowledge and celebrate Advanced Diversity Services' Eid al-Adha celebration on Sunday 31 May. I particularly want to acknowledge Dr Mona Qasim, a Palestinian refugee and neurosurgeon who is bringing together people who have fled Gaza and are now rebuilding their lives in this wonderful country. At the celebration I met a school principal who is now diligently learning English while teaching Arabic herself to our community here.

Even after being forced from her home and her community, she is still teaching, leading and giving to others. We were also honoured to welcome His Excellency Dr Amjad Abu el Ezz, the ambassador of the State of Palestine to Australia and New Zealand. I also want to acknowledge Bayside Labor Councillor Soraya Kassim and our local public health network, who support Advanced Diversity Services to help make this community-building work possible.

At this event, I was very much humbled to be able to serve food and hear more about the lives of people who have so cruelly been forced to leave behind their community back home. No family should have to flee their home because of war, displacement and destruction. The sanctions Australia announced this week are part of condemning escalating settler violence against Palestinians.

The killing must end. We must have lasting peace and a two-state solution.