‘Palestine will never die’: Hundreds unite in Sydney for rally

Hundreds have gathered at Sydney’s Town Hall in support of Palestine, waving flags and joining in anti-Israel and United States chants. See the photos.

As Israel prepares mass counter strikes against a bloody assault by Hamas militants, a thousand pro-Palestine supporters marched on the streets of Sydney with cries of “free Palestine” and anti-American slogans.

Waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great in Arabic), the crowd - shadowed by dozens of police - marched from Town Hall to Opera House, in a sign of anger towards Chris Minns’ decision to the light the Sydney icon in the blue and white of Israel on Monday night.

A chorus of boos echoed around the gathering at Town Hall when speakers highlighted move.

The Lebanese Muslim Association earlier on Monday labelled Premier Chris Minns’ a “hypocrite”, following the decision, saying in a statement “We see it as the NSW government again showing its favouritism in pandering towards the Zionist lobby, as it would appear that Premier Minns and his team do not share the same concern for Palestinian lives as they do for the Israelis”.

Hundreds of stunned onlookers along Darling Harbour had their Monday evening meals briefly interrupted as hundreds marched past.

Rally For A Free Palestine protest event at Town Hall in Sydney following the recent outbreak of war between Israel and Palestine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Hundreds showed their support for Palestine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Plenty of people were carrying flags. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“Palestinians have every right to break out of our cage - we have every right to fight back,” one speaker said to raucous applause earlier in the evening.

Members of the crowd joined in on chants including “Palestine will never die”, “Israel, USA, how many kids have you killed today?”, as well as calls of “Allahu Akbar” (God is great in Arabic).

“We have been waiting for something…to break the neck of the Israeli occupation,” another speak said to cheers.

“Hamas practices anti-colonialism.”

“What was taken by force will only be retaken by force.”

Families with children, young teens and old men and women waved Palestinian flags and wore the keffiyeh scarf.

Speaking at the rally, University of Sydney academic Fahad Ali said the Israelis should not have been surprised by Saturday’s attack after decades of occupation in Gaza.

“It’s a kind of unique arrogance on the part of the settlers to think they can keep a population of 2 million people captive indefinitely and expected no consequences,” he said.

“It’s been 75 years and we’ve finally taken back our land.”

The crowd weren’t happy with the NSW Government for supporting Israel. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The Jewish community have been warned not to be in the vicinity of the Opera house.

“NSW Police and CSG are urging the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House precinct or Town Hall this evening,” an email from the Jewish board of Deputies said.

“Community members already in the CBD should also be vigilant as protesters are likely to seek to march from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House.

“The events tonight may pose a risk to the safety of community members and you are strongly urged not to attend.”

Pro-Palestine supporters rallying at Sydney Town Hall as the conflict between Israel and Palestinians escalates. Picture: David Swift

The gathering was peaceful. Picture: David Swift

Many people were chanting. Picture: David Swift

Greens labelled a ‘disgrace’ ahead of ‘peaceful protest’ for Palestine

Organisers of a rally supporting Palestine are confident that hundreds will meet this afternoon at Sydney’s Town Hall for the event.

The Palestine Action Group Sydney, who are circulating the event on social media, have demanded Australia cut ties with Israel and urged supporters to “protest in solidarity with Palestine this Monday night”.

Organiser Josh Lee said the lighting up of the Opera House was a “secondary reason” for the rally – “the main thing is what’s going on in Palestine”.

He did however criticise the decision to light up the sails of the icon, adding “It’s a shocking stance to take when the Prime Minister of Israel and other members of his government have fairly openly called for a wholesale massacre in Gaza”.

He said “at least hundreds” of attendees are expected, saying the rally would be a “mass peaceful protest”.

The event has been supported by the NSW Greens who have posted on their official social media in support of the rally and calling for “no war on Gaza”.

NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong responded on social media to a post by Defence Minister Richard Marles on Monday afternoon, after he wrote “the unprovoked attacks from militant Hamas on Israel are abhorrent”.

“Unprovoked?! This is a disgraceful statement from Defence Minister Richard Marles,” Ms Leon, the member for Newtown, wrote on Monday afternoon.

“It is also appalling that tonight the Opera House will be lit up in support of Israel – what about all of the Palestinian lives lost since occupation?”

Robert Gregory, the CEO of the Australian Jewish Association, said the Greens support was a “disgrace”.

“As Israeli women, men, children and elderly are being hunted down, raped, beheaded and butchered in the street, the NSW Greens are joining others tonight at a ‘rally for Palestine’ calling for ‘no war’ on terrorist-run Gaza,” he said.

Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong has voiced her support for Palestine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“This is akin to a rally during World War II in support of Nazi Germany.

“The NSW Greens and anyone who attends this disgrace are dancing on the blood of the Jewish victims. The NSW Greens are reprehensible and have disgraced themselves in such a way that they should never play a role in any parliament. We call on all decent people to condemn them.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the march, calling the Hamas attack on Israel “indefensible” and an “atrocity that deserves condemnation of all”.

“People need to really take a step back...I remain a supporter of a two-state solution in the Middle East...But what has occurred here is completely indefensible. You can’t target civilians like the weekend,” Mr Albanese told 2GB.

“It was a music festival with young people engaged with each other in a peaceful way.

“You can have your views, the Middle East is a complex issue...the actions of Hamas in this are indefensible.”

Anthony Albanese said the rally should not be going ahead. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Albanese said the rally should be cancelled and “absolutely” must not go ahead.

“(It will) create a climate that is not conducive to peace and the objective of wanting to see Palestinians and Israelis living a peaceful and secure life. This does not support it at all.”

Australian authorities are closing monitoring “a number of Australian citizens in the region.”

“We have at this point in time just continued to engage with the Israeli authorities. There are of course a number of Australian citizens in the region. We remain concerned about them,” he said.

Support for Palestine was still visible in Lakemba on Monday morning, the day after an impromptu rally sprung up near the train station praising the strike on Israel.

The Palestinian flag fluttered out of some cars driving down Lakemba’s main drag of Halton Street.

Multiple businesses were also flying the flags, hooked up to clothes racks or awnings, out the front of their shops.

The Daily Telegraph saw shoppers purchasing Palestinian flags and banners ahead of the rally on Monday night.

Robert Gregory from the Australian Jewish Association.

Nassrine Ahmed, a Palestinian-Australian working at a clothes store flying flags out the front, said there was a lot of support for Palestine in the heavily-Muslim area.

“Because they’re Muslim and they’re following the correct religion. We’re following them because what they’re doing is right,” she said.

She praised a video reportedly showing a massive security fence being knocked down by bulldozer in Gaza, adding Palestinians living in Israel were “treated like rubbish” and subjected to harsh borders and constant checkpoints.

“It’s like saying you’re in Belmore and you’re locked up – you can’t go to Lakemba or Bankstown,” she said.

“That was amazing what they did (knock down the fence). It made me so emotional.”

“You have so much hype (over this but) that’s literally what happens to Palestinians every day.”

She did lament the deaths of innocent civilians on both sides.

“It is upsetting obviously from both sides – those people don’t choose to be there – even in the Israeli army, they’re forced to be there,” she said.

Talking of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, she said the move would bode well for prisoner swaps in the coming days.

“They’ve taken a lot of soldiers as well which is great for us – they’ve taken so many Palestinians into jail for 30 (or) 40 years … they go in as boys,” she said.

“Now they know how we feel,” another woman said.