The names of the 17,000 Palestinian children who have been killed in Gaza by Israel over the past 22 months were read aloud outside Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday.

A collective act of mourning and solidarity, the 24-hour vigil brought together humanitarian organisations, activists, journalists, healthcare workers, artists and politicians to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and for Australia to take action to hold Israel to account.

“Today we stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza and we raise alarm over the failure of the international community to protect the most vulnerable. It is indefensible that the Israeli military continues to starve, maim and kill innocent children on a daily basis,” said Michelle Higelin, executive director of ActionAid Australia.

“These........

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