Pro-Palestine activists call off weekly protests in Melbourne CBD after 71 weeks

Pro-Palestine activists will end their weekly protests in Melbourne’s CBD after disrupting the city for 71 consecutive Sundays.

Pro-Palestine groups will cease weekly protests in the Melbourne CBD for the first time in more than 16 months.

Organisers of the weekly rallies — some of which have led to arrests after clashes with police and pro-Israel groups — revealed on Tuesday that they would switch to monthly protests.

In a joint statement posted online by a series of pro-Palestinian groups and advocates, including Free Palestine Melbourne and APAN president Nasser Mashni, the serial protesters celebrated 70 weeks of rallies.

“We are the only city in the world to have protested for 70 consecutive weeks, this coming week will be our 71st!” they wrote.

“After the protest on Sunday, 16 February 2025, we will be building towards a protest on Sunday, the 23rd of March.

“We will continue protesting, at least once a month.”

Pro-Palestine activists march through the city in December. Picture: Diego Fedele

The groups warned that “if Netanyahu and Trump resume the bombing in Gaza” more regular protests would resume.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan last month called for an end to the weekly protests in Melbourne, condemning the “disruption to our streets”.

“There is hurt on both sides here,” she said.

“What does not heal that hurt, what does not do the work to mend our social cohesion, is continuing to bring that sort of disruption to our streets.

“If they can find a space for a ceasefire in the Middle East, surely we can find a space for these protests to come to an end in Melbourne.”

The activists will call off their rallies after 71 consecutive weeks. Picture: Diego Fedele

The decision will come as welcome news to many in the Jewish community who fear going into the CBD on Sundays.

Jewish leaders have been calling for a crackdown on anti-Israel CBD rallies for months, after protesters were seen waving terrorist flags, holding up Nazi signs and chanting offensive slogans.

Jewish Community Council of Victoria chief executive Naomi Levin said many Victorians were fed up with the weekly disruptions, adding that no one should feel unsafe in their own city.

“Victorians just want to be able to travel around the CBD on the weekend without the disruption and intimidation that these weekly protests have caused,” she said.

“I am sure the vast majority of Victorians will welcome this capitulation by protest organisers.”

Premier Jacinta Allan called for an end to the disruption on Melbourne’s streets. Picture: Getty Images

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the state government needed to step in with “clear and enforceable” measures, including protest permits, to ensure the level of disruption experienced over the past 16 months cannot occur again.

“The protests have inflicted significant disruption on CBD businesses, residents and visitation, and have significantly impacted our reputation,” he said.

“The cost of policing these protests is running into the tens of millions of dollars - money that should be spent to help Victorians in a time of economic uncertainty.”

Mr Guerra said the chamber respected the right to protest but that protesters must “respect the right to let business operate and to let tourists enjoy our city”.

Pro-Palestine rallies kicked off immediately after Hamas’ terrorist attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1200 people were killed in their homes and at the Supernova music festival.

They have continued weekly over the past 16 months during Israel’s deadly bombardment of Gaza, in which thousands of Palestinians have been killed.

Originally published as Pro-Palestine activists call off weekly protests in Melbourne CBD after 71 weeks