Pro-Israel, Palestine rallies take over Sydney

Generations of families, hundreds of children and thousands of pro-Palestine supporters have swarmed Hyde Park in protest, just hours a after pro-Israel rally down the road on Sunday the morning.

Generations of families, hundreds of children and thousands of pro-Palestine supporters have swarmed Hyde Park in protest, just hours a after pro-Israel rally down the road on Sunday the morning.

Waving dozens of red, green, black and white Palestine flags, the lively group who had flocked to the city from 1pm on Sunday afternoon shouted: “free free Palestine. Free free Gaza.”

“We’re going to make this the biggest protest for Palestine Sydney has ever seen,” the rally leader said to the energised crowd before him.

One group of supporters held a large banner with the words “the Jews are our brothers. Don’t believe the propaganda it’s not Muslim vs Jew, it’s Zionist vs the world. Be on the right side,” written on it.

The crowd chanted “free free Palestine and free free Gaza”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

A 100m long Palestine flag ran from the stage to the fountain at the park’s centre, with protest attendees writing messages on the white strip of the flag including: “Palestine’s army is stronger than any other,” “stop killing innocent children” and “stop the genocide, free Palestine”.

“I know we are all coming with anger and frustration,” event organiser and leader Assala Sayara shouted before the passionate group.

“Long live Palestine.

“Gaza Gaza don’t you cry, Palestine will never die.”

“You’re committing Genocide.”

She also called on the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in her address to the protesters.

People came out in big numbers for the rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“Albanese you can’t hide. You’re supporting genocide,” she said.

“We’re here to call for a ceasefire and an end to the occupation.

“In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians.”

She continued to lead chants including: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “Israel USA, how many kids have you killed today.”

“We Palestinians have been crying and bleeding for over 75 years,” she said.

“Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied.”

She proceeded to list names of “innocent Palestinians killed when the world remained silent”.

“This is an indication the world has failed justice and humanity. Shame,” she said.

Lots of people carried flags. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

‘Must make a stand’: Israel supporters flood Sydney streets

Thousands of Israel supporters in white and blue have flooded the Sydney CBD to stand in solidarity with Israeli communities worldwide, as the nation remains divided over the conflict. 

The pro-Israel rally attendees stood arm in arm at Martin Place for the “peaceful presentation”, holding hundreds of posters showing images of faces of people who had been kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas. 

“On October 7th, nearly 200 innocent civilians were abducted from Israel into the Gaza Strip. Their whereabouts remain unknown,” the posters read. 

“More than 3000 men, women and children ranging from three months to 85-years-old were wounded, murdered, beaten and raped and brutally separated from loved ones. Please help bring them home alive.” 

Red balloons were tied to dozens of empty walkers and prams alongside a display of shoes, to symbolise those Jewish civilians held as leverage by Hamas in Gaza. 

Israel supporters gather to protest in Martin Place- Picture: Tamaryn McGregor

The group sang as they wiped away tears streaming down their faces from behind their sunglasses and listened to speeches from leaders of the Jewish community. 

“Unfortunately terrible circumstances but it’s great to see the power of our community,” the rally leader shouted to a cheering and clapping sea of Jewish flags. 

The protest began in Martin Place. Picture: Tamaryn McGregor

Supporters raised photos of those missing in the conflict. Picture: Tamaryn McGregor

“We must make a stand for what is right. 

“In this conflict there is no room for moral equivalence. 

“I speak to you not as a Jew, I speak to you as a member of a human family. We stand against those who kidnap and hold hostage use leverage for their terror the innocent civilians of Israel. We stand on this side of the moral line.

“We will choose love, we will choose life and we will choose justice.” 

“We unite on our request. Bring our families back home now.” 

The group were briefly contained to Martin Place by a heavy police presence, with dozens of officers in high-vis patrolling the area and neighbouring closed off streets, before police relented and allowed the group to march to Captain Cook Park at Circular Quay.

“This is not us versus them (Palestinian) This is us versus peace. As long as Hamas is in power, there will be no peace,” a key speaker said to the passionate group waving flags before him. 

“We are here in the centre of Sydney because this place is safe, we belong here, we have nothing to hide and we have done nothing wrong.”

GREENS BLAST GOVERNMENT OVER CEASEFIRE STANCE

The Greens have blasted the Albanese government for “working hand in glove with the US” over the Israeli-Hamas conflict and reiterated calls for a ceasefire.

Leader Adam Bandt said the government should be using diplomatic pressure to demand an immediate ceasefire.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for a humanitarian pause on the conflict last week but her message was met with anger from the local Jewish community.

“The Greens condemn Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza, which will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, and we repeat our call for a ceasefire,” Mr Bandt said.

“Yesterday, Labor failed to vote with most of the world for a ceasefire at the UN general assembly.

Mr Bandt said Labor was becoming complicit in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“Labor cannot wash its hands of what happens now. By failing to back a ceasefire and continuing to approve defence exports to Israel, Labor shares responsibility for the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza.

“Labor has backed Israel’s military cutting off communications for civilians, aid workers and journalists, plunging Gaza into darkness and hiding the horror of what happens next.

“Instead of working hand in glove with the US, Labor should be using Australia’s diplomatic pressure to demand an immediate ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine so that Israelis and Palestinians can have a just and lasting peace.”