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‘Moral obligation': Top Jewish group calls for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza

‘Moral obligation': Top Jewish group calls for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza

One of the country's top Jewish organisations has argued Israel has a moral obligation to ensure the flow of sufficient aid into Gaza, saying it is deeply troubled by the suffering of innocent Palestinian civilians.
The statement by the Zionist Federation of Australia – the peak body for Zionist organisations and activity in Australia – contrasts with the Israeli embassy in Canberra's claim on Monday that there is no starvation in Gaza.
It also represents the most direct call from the nation's main pro-Israel groups for more to be done to ensure that enough food and other essential supplies are delivered to Gazan civilians.
Zionist Federation President Jeremy Leibler said the organisation continues to stand 'shoulder to shoulder with the state of Israel, as its people fight a just war to secure the removal of Hamas from power and the return of the hostages.'
'Our humanity also compels us to recognise the pain and suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza,' Leibler said.
'We are deeply troubled by the reports of hunger in parts of Gaza.'
In a statement intended to convey the growing distress in much of the nation's Jewish community about images of starving Palestinian children and lengthy food queues in Gaza, he continued: 'We call upon Israel, the United Nations and their counterparts to do everything within their power to ensure that sufficient humanitarian aid flows to Palestinian civilians without delay.
'That is their collective moral obligation.'
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