Pro-Palestine protesters march in Melbourne two days after Jewish synagogue firebombed

A pro-Palestine leader has passionately condemned the “racist fascists” who set fire to a Melbourne synagogue as protesters waving anti-Israel flags march through the CBD.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni has condemned the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue. Picture: Instagram

Pro-Palestine protesters waving anti-Israel flags and banners have gathered in Melbourne’s CBD to once again demonstrate against the war in Gaza.

Sunday’s rally, the 61st to be held since Israel launched its offensive in Palestine in retaliation to Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks, attracted a smaller crowd than previous weeks.

The protest comes two days after the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue, which is being probed by the counter terrorism units at Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police.

Pro-Palestine protesters have gathered in Melbourne two days after a synagogue was firebombed. Picture: Tony Gough

A few thousand people descended on the State Library shortly after 12pm, waving banners and chanting in favour of a free Palestine.

The Jewish community was represented at the protest as a group of people held up a large banner saying “Jews In Solidarity, Palestine Will Be Free”.

A large police presence was visible at the Bourke Street Mall to stop any protesters making a break for the Myer Christmas windows, the target of an abandoned protest a few weeks prior.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni took to the mic shortly after 12.15, leading the crowd in a chant of “Free, Free Palestine”.

Mr Mashni passionately condemned the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue.

“Whoever set fire to that synagogue is a racist, is a fascist, is a Nazi … They are not us.”

“If you’ve got any hate in your body you are not welcome here.”

Protesters are calling for a ‘free Palestine’. Picture : Tony Gough

Mr Mashni emotionally praised the role of Jewish activists in the Free Palestine movement.

“We condemn that act. We stand with our brothers and sisters who are Jewish. Our fight is not with Judaism it’s with Zionism.

“If that hate looks like you. Piss off.”

Mr Mashni said labelling the attack as terrorism was a matter for the police but called for those responsible to “face the full scale of the law”.

“(If) it is somebody that thinks they’re on our side ... there is no room for that. No room,” he said.

“(It’s) the police that describes (acts of terrorism), what’s terrorism is killing kids, terrorism is starving the population for 430 days, terrorism is dropping 2000-pound bombs on tent cities.”

Mr Mashni said attempts to link the firebombing of the synagogue to pro-Palestine protesters were “disgusting”.

Senator Lidia Thorpe addresses the crowd at a pro-Palestinian rally in Melbourne. Picture: Tony Gough

Other members of the crowd also displayed their condemnation for the attack in Ripponlea.

One woman held a banner saying: “We can fight anti-semitism and racist Zionism at the same time.”

Firebrand Senator Lidia Thorpe, who has addressed previous rallies, was spotted among the crowd wearing a traditional Middle Eastern keffiyeh.

Ms Thorpe declared she doesn’t care how many censures she faced as she called for a citizen’s arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We need a citizen’s arrest of that murderer,” she said.

“Netanyahu has a dollar sign on his head and it’s time someone put him away for good.”

In a fiery speech to the crowd she hit back at politicians who she says are standing with Netanyahu.

“There are war criminals in my workplace who sit on their hands and pretend they’re there for the people.”

About 1000 protesters gathered at the State Library on Sunday. Picture: Tony Gough

Dr Zeena Salman, an oncologist who had worked to get children suffering from cancer out of Gaza, spoke about the horrific conditions she had witnessed.

“In the past 14 months, I have watched my friends and family be murdered, doctors murdered, nurses murdered,” she said.

“A cancer hospital for Children we built (was) destroyed and children were dying by cancer and by bombs.

“For the last 14 months, we’ve been working to get children out, but they have to leave their family, they have to leave their land, they have to leave everything behind and when I talk to those mothers, every single day, they ask for one thing, do not forget and do not give up.”

Dave, a United Workers Union member and Woolworths employee, spoke about his role in the recent strike action against the supermarket giant.

“17 days ago, 1800 workers withdrew their labour from the supermarket giant Woolworths,” he said.

“For 17 days, workers have braved the heat and the wind and the rain.

“For 17 days, workers have stood up to corporate power.”

Dave drew parallels between the struggle for workers’ rights and the fight for a free Palestine.

“Workers stand in solidarity against the state,” he said.

“Workers stand in solidarity with Palestine.

“None of us will be free until Palestine is free.”