Palestine Lecture in Launceston Today

Media release – Ros Lewis, 13 May 2023

Palestine lecture in Launceston today

Launceston, Dr Adel Yousif, a university lecturer, spoke of his personal experience and his father’s expulsion from Palestine in the 1948 Nakba.

Michael Mansell spoke of parallels between the Palestinian and Aboriginal experiences of colonisation and welcomed those present to the country of the palawa.

Earlier today  in Hobart Palestinian people and their supporters gathered in a vigil on Parliament lawns to remember the Nakba, the expulsion of Palestinians from Israel 75 years ago.

“I have seen how Palestinians in the state of Israel, Gaza and the occupied West Bank are forced to live,” said Dr Yousif. “I believe this is apartheid, an outcome of colonisation.

‘I was without nationality or passport until 1995, when I became an Australian citizen. My extended family still lives in limbo without nationality.

‘The Palestinian people were forcibly removed from their land in 1948. At this time between 400 and 600 Palestinian villages were sacked during the war, while urban Palestinians were almost entirely extinguished. ‘

‘Friends of Palestine is a group of Tasmanians who aim to increase awareness and understanding of the situation. This is a human rights issue and we need to make sure our Members of Parliament express our views.’

Senator Ann Urquhart also told of her visit to Israel, Gaza and the occupied west bank of Palestine. ‘I was shocked at the denial of basic human rights,’ she said.

Another person who did not want to be named told of their commitment to Palestinian cause, based on first hand observations.

Amnesty International volunteers were present and also  lived stream the Launceston event at