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‘Slaughtered in front of our eyes’: Gold Coast father speaks out on Palestine at booed protest

A Qld Senator has urged government to “do more” on Palestine at a Gold Coast protest that received an ugly reaction from bystanders. WATCH THE REACTIONS

WATCH: Ugly reaction to Surfers Paradise protest for Palestine

A Queensland Senator has called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire of attacks on war-torn Gaza, taking aim at the Australian government’s response to the war.

On Saturday, Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne fronted a Palestine solidarity march at Surfers Paradise telling protesters that the government “needs to do more”.

Protesters gather at Surfers Paradise to demand an immediate and permanent ceasfire of attacks on war-torn Gaza. 2.12.23. Picture: Amaani Siddeek
Protesters gather at Surfers Paradise to demand an immediate and permanent ceasfire of attacks on war-torn Gaza. 2.12.23. Picture: Amaani Siddeek

“Under international conventions, which we are signatory to, our government has an obligation to take steps to prevent genocide,” Senator Allman-Payne said.

“So far we are not seeing them come out strong enough and we need to do more.”

“We are doing what we can to bring attention to this issue and to force the government to do what it should be doing and that is standing up and calling out the war crimes that are being committed by the Israeli government.”

Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne fronted a Palestine solidarity protest on the Gold Coast. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage
Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne fronted a Palestine solidarity protest on the Gold Coast. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

It comes as protests on the Gold Coast enter it’s fourth week with organisers vowing that the weekly demonstrations will continue until ceasefire demands are met.

However the protests haven’t been met positively by some Surfers Paradise locals and tourists with a number of people seen booing and making crude hand gestures at the passing protesters.

People staying in highrise apartments and coastal hotels were seen gathering on their balconies, some joining chants. One beachgoer was also spotted running from the beach with slippers in hand to join the procession.

A number of people gathered on their balconies and outside apartments and hotels to boo at Palestine solidarity protesters marching along Surfers Paradise Esplanade. Picture: Amaani Siddeek
A number of people gathered on their balconies and outside apartments and hotels to boo at Palestine solidarity protesters marching along Surfers Paradise Esplanade. Picture: Amaani Siddeek

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resumed in Gaza after a temporary truce ended.

Waddah Weld Ali, a Palestinian father living in Southport, said since October 7 he has lost many relatives living in West Bank city of Jenin.

“We are a big family in Jenin and every day they are getting killed,” he said.

Southport father Waddah Weld Ali told protestors on Saturday of how his relatives were among a number of Palestinians "savagely slaughtered" under the "brutal Israeli occupation". Picture: Amaani Siddeek
Southport father Waddah Weld Ali told protestors on Saturday of how his relatives were among a number of Palestinians "savagely slaughtered" under the "brutal Israeli occupation". Picture: Amaani Siddeek

“They are being savagely slaughtered by this barbaric occupation. Any human who can see what is happening now in Palestine – against our children, our women, our civilians – should stand together to stop the misery. To stop the slaughtering that is happening day and night right in front of our eyes.

“We need our MPs, our teachers in universities and schools to stand with us (and prove) the existence of humanity.”

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/slaughtered-in-front-of-our-eyes-gold-coast-father-speaks-out-on-palestine-at-booed-protest/news-story/c13fc3b1c35b3f910e318aebaa3520ea