Josh Addo-Carr has weighed in on the Israel-Hamas war, comparing Palestinians’ fight for land to the struggle of Indigenous Australians.
Footy star Josh Addo-Carr has compared the Palestinian struggle for land to that of Indigenous Australians, as the death toll in the bloody war between Israel and Hamas tops 1,500.Hamas, the Palestinian militant group which rules the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack against Israel on Saturday, infiltrating the country, massacring hundreds of Israelis and taking 150 hostages.
Israel has since launched a wave of air strikes and imposed a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip, cutting off access to food and electricity for its 2.3 million residents.
Bulldogs star Addo-Carr took to Instagram on Tuesday to show his support for Palestinians, posting an image from the Black Peoples Union which reads ‘One Struggle, One Fight’ alongside the Aboriginal and Palestinian flags.
The phrase ‘Land Back’ was accompanied by two Arabic words.
The star’s post comes after fellow sportsman Sonny Bill Williams sparked outrage after a social media post suggesting Hamas militants should be described as freedom fighters.
Williams, who has previously shared public prayers for Palestinians and referred to Israel as “oppressors”, on Sunday night shared an emoji that showed his continued support to the militants who rule the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country is now “at war” with Hamas after Saturday’s surprise attack, with Gaza since pounded with air strikes.
The territory, which occupies 363sqkm along the Mediterrean Sea, is one of the most densely populated places on earth with more than two million people living there. The impoverished Palestinian enclave has already been under a blockade since 2007, with tight restrictions on what can come in or out.
Since the war broke out over the weekend, these rules have tightened further - with Israel now blocking all food, supplies and electricty from entering Gaza.
Meanwhile, Hamas has vowed to execute one hostage every time no notice is given of an impending Israeli attack.
A mother and her two young daughters, and a female student, are among dozens of people believed to have been kidnapped in Israel by Hamas fighters over the weekend.
Government officials have since confirmed more than 100 people, including a Holocaust survivor, have been taken hostage, with those held captive believed to have been moved to Gaza.
In a post on social media, non-profit organisation Israel War Room claimed “mostly women” appear to have been kidnapped by the group at present time.
The group also repeated unverified claims that some hostages have been raped by Hamas militants.“It has already been confirmed that Hamas fighters are using rape as a weapon of war,” it said. “There must be no mercy for these barbarians.”
