Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja has once again stepped forward to use his platform for humanitarian advocacy, urging global leaders to act decisively to end the suffering of children in Gaza. The 38-year-old cricketer, a father of two, has long been outspoken on issues of human rights and inclusivity, and his recent comments reinforce his willingness to speak up where many others remain silent.
Khawaja, who met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra last month, emphasized that the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at the heart of his concerns. The plight of the Palestinian people, particularly the children who have suffered devastating losses, drove him to call for increased sanctions on Israel and greater humanitarian aid to the region.
Last week, international aid organization Save the Children revealed harrowing statistics that one Palestinian child has been killed every hour on average by Israeli forces over nearly two years of war, with the death toll now surpassing 20,000. Khawaja responded to the figures with deep sorrow, saying: “It’s sad. It’s been happening for two years. Kids were getting slaughtered. Now kids are getting starved to death. Before (people would say) it was an ‘accident’, but now everyone can see that starving a population to death is not an accident. That is the difference now. More people have come around and just said, ‘enough is enough’.”
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of a Child also condemned the conditions in Gaza, stating that children there are “enduring unimaginable suffering due to acute malnutrition, starvation and conditions of famine.” The committee called on Israel to take immediate action to end its obstruction of humanitarian aid. Israel’s Defence Forces, however, have denied allegations of deliberately starving civilians.
A Stand Beyond Cricket
Khawaja has already clashed with cricketing authorities over his stance. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test in 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) barred him from displaying a dove of peace emblem on his apparel as a gesture of solidarity with Gaza. Refusing to back down, Khawaja later carried the same dove symbol on his bat during a Big Bash League match, signaling his determination to make a statement about peace and equality.
“The reason I spoke up right at the start at the MCG was because I never thought Palestinians, particularly the children, were being treated the same way in the media as what was going on in Ukraine,” Khawaja explained. “I saw all these headlines about Ukraine and how Russia is a devil, but no one was talking about this. To me it was clear why. The Ukrainian kids look like us. They are white. Then you had these coloured people dying. I felt like there was a racial divide occurring.”
The father of two daughters, Ayla and Aisha, is heartbroken whenever he sees reports of children losing their lives to conflict. “They are just kids. One death is one too many. The loss of each is equal,” he said. He also criticized the disparity in government aid, pointing out: “Yet the government has given $1 billion in aid to Ukraine, and $130 million to the people of Gaza.”
Passion Rooted in Experience
Born in Pakistan and raised in western Sydney, Khawaja has often spoken about the challenges he faced growing up in a multicultural Australia where racial discrimination was not uncommon. These experiences, he said, shaped his passion for inclusivity and justice.
“I’ve had a go at other politicians in the past because I stand very strongly for an inclusive, multicultural Australia. That is something I am really passionate about, through my experiences,” Khawaja said. “Because I am not white doesn’t mean I am not Australian. That is something I have had to deal with my whole life, even in cricket. That is where my passion really stemmed from, and from there it has evolved into other things.”
Although Khawaja admits there are countless causes he could champion, he carefully chooses the ones he speaks publicly about. His guiding principle is to use his voice responsibly and respectfully, without personal gain. “I do it for the greater good. Nothing I have ever spoken up about has benefited me. I am not making money out of it. I am happy to do it because I know it is the right thing to do, and I will never stop doing what is right.”
He cites Muhammad Ali as one of his role models, not only for his achievements in boxing but also for his courageous activism outside the ring.
Political Possibilities
Khawaja has formed close relationships with several political leaders, including Treasurer Jim Chalmers, and acknowledges that his meeting with the prime minister was significant. “I was very fortunate I got to have a one-on-one with the PM. I want to keep that relationship open in the future, so I am mindful of not talking about a private conversation,” he said. “I did talk to him about the children of Gaza dying.”
When asked about his future beyond cricket, Khawaja remains cautious but does not rule out a move into politics. “People say sport and politics don’t mix, but I know so many politicians through cricket. Whether I would do anything (in politics) after my career … I would never say no, but I am not really sure. I don’t say yes either. I have got a young family and have other things happening in my life.”
For now, Khawaja continues to balance his cricket career with his humanitarian advocacy. He insists that even when his playing days are over, his commitment to speaking up for those without a voice will remain unchanged. “A lot of times athletes are too afraid to speak up because they are afraid of what might happen ‘here’ or ‘over there’, or lose contracts. I feel like I have always been able to speak respectfully to project what I am trying to say.”
As he reflects on his career and broader mission, Khawaja makes it clear that his voice will not be silenced. His call of “enough is enough” echoes far beyond cricket, representing a commitment to justice, equality, and compassion for all.
