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Basem Abdo, who made history as Australia's first Palestinian-born member of parliament, said the country's Turkish community has been working intensively to keep the situation in Palestine on the public agenda.
Abdo, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP), won the seat of Calwell in Melbourne's northwest with 55.08% of the vote in the May 3 general election that determined members of the House of Representatives and Senate.
The ALP secured victory in the election, maintaining power with 93 lawmakers in the 151-seat parliament, while the opposition National-Liberal Party Coalition won 43 seats.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his swearing-in ceremony scheduled for July 22, the 38-year-old educator highlighted the contributions of Australia's Turkish community.
"The Turkish community here provides tremendous and positive contributions to Australian society through their schools, institutions, community organizations, and the local economy," Abdo said of his multicultural electorate, where many Turkish Australians reside.
Abdo praised the Turkish community's efforts regarding the Palestinian cause, stating, "I am aware of the Turkish community's efforts here regarding Palestine. What is happening in Palestine touches their hearts. The Turkish community is leading on issues of justice and peace for Palestinians."
The newly elected lawmaker emphasized how images from Gaza have affected the broader Australian public.
"I can see how much the images coming from Palestine, especially from Gaza, are shaking people," he said.
Abdo noted that Australia's Muslim community has been working intensively to properly inform all of Australian society about Palestine and to ensure peace and justice.
"As someone of Palestinian origin, I know those places well. I personally experienced the occupation. I lost my grandfather and grandmother during the occupation. My father left there because there was an occupation," Abdo said, explaining his personal connection to the conflict.
Born in Kuwait on June 3, 1987, to a Palestinian family, Abdo's relatives were forced to leave their village in the West Bank following the 1967 Six-Day War.
The family later fled to Jordan during the Gulf War before immigrating to Australia in 1991.
He added that social media images generally come from family members of local residents in Palestine, particularly Gaza. "I can voice their concerns (in parliament) and lead in ensuring peace and justice," he said.
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