The International and Peaceful Network Australia (IPAN) has initiated an open letter calling on defence minister Richard Marles to stop sending weapons and parts to Israel.

The letter states that Australia has been continuing military exports to Israel as it commits mass murder in the Gaza Strip, including supplying the devices that open weapons bay doors for F-35 fighter jets and the Electro Optic Systems R400 cannon.

It also calls on Labor to cancel the $917 million defence contract with Israeli weapons corporation Elbit Systems.

It further warns that, under current arrangements, Australia and government ministers involved in the lethal trade are complicit in supporting and aiding Israel’s mass slaughter and starvation program in Gaza. Having ratified the 1948 Genocide Convention in 1949, Australia is required to prevent and punish a genocide, in times of peace or war, under its first article.

IPAN has listed a total of six international laws that require Australia to take action to stop the Gaza genocide.

Human rights lawyer and journalist Kellie Tranter, an IPAN patron, has uncovered details of Australia’s involvement in the supply chain of a key part for the F-35 that are being couriered to Israel. Green Left spoke to Tranter about this deadly trade.

***

What are the implications of Labor continuing to export weapons and parts, directly or via a third party, to Israel?

Australia is clearly in breach of its obligations under international law to do all that it........

© Green Left Weekly