Animal welfare activists have released new video footage documenting alleged abuse of Australian cattle in Gaza.
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Animals Australia says videos taken between February and last week [warning, graphic footage] show that live export regulations continue to be ignored with horrific consequences for Australian animals.
The organisation says it has reported six incidents in Gaza to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry since the start of this year and that mistreatment is occurring on a nightly basis.
The department confirmed on Tuesday it was investigating complaints made in February and said it had suspended the use of Gaza municipal abattoir for the slaughter of Australian animals while it verified the footage.
But the advocacy group is calling for tougher action against the Australian exporter whose animals are the subject of the claims, Livestock Shipping Services.
The footage shows cattle with ear tags consistent with Australian livestock, but Fairfax has been unable to confirm independently that the animals were exported from Australia by Livestock Shipping Services.
The graphic footage shows cattle tied up and bleeding as workers struggle to subdue the animals.
One piece of footage shows a bull being stabbed in the eye after staff struggle to secure it in a restraint box.
Animals Australia says investigators shot the videos at the one government-approved slaughterhouse in Gaza, as well as a number of unauthorised abattoirs.
Lisa Chalk, a spokeswoman for Animals Australia, said that as a result of a complaint the organisation made in November, the department had not granted any new export permits for consignments that included the Gaza supply chain.
But Ms Chalk said Australian animals remained in the market in Gaza and a further shipment had recently arrived in Israel.
“No action has been taken to stop cruelty to animals that were already in Gaza,” she said.
“They’ve not taken any responsibility for the animals that are still there.”
The managing director of Livestock Shipping Services, Ahmad Ghosheh, said the company had voluntarily suspended supply to Gaza last October, but was aware of the recent complaints involving animals already there.
“Recent political difficulties in the region have made access to the supply chain facilities extremely difficult for LSS, however, specialist consultants have been on site in the past week to carry out the necessary remediation strategies required to ensure compliance with ESCAS for the processing of remaining cattle from this final shipment,” he said.
A department spokesman said “the exporter is working to ensure that no further animals are slaughtered until the abattoir can operate in a manner consistent with international animal welfare standards.”
