Thousands attend Melbourne pro-Palestine rally at State Library
Signs held at a CBD rally comparing Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler have sparked anger at the “despicable use of Nazi imagery to demonise the Israeli PM”.
Victoria
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Signs held by protesters at a Melbourne rally that compared Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Hitler have prompted outrage.
About 12,000 pro-Palestinian supporters gathered at the State Library for a third consecutive week on Sunday afternoon, calling for an end to the war in Gaza.
A heavy police presence, including the mounted branch, surrounded the crowd as it peacefully marched through the CBD.
Crowds also gathered at Caulfield Park on Sunday morning for a “United with Israel Gathering for Solidarity”.
Some pro-Palestinian supporters, who marched to Parliament House, were spotted holding offensive placards during the rally.
One man was seen holding a sign with two faces of Hitler and Mr Netanyahu, with the caption saying: “The irony of becoming what you once hated”.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters have gathered for a rally at the State Library for a third consecutive week. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/sv8Qjmhapc
— Suzan Delibasic (@suzandelibasic) October 29, 2023
Another sign, held by a female protester, said: “Well done Israel Hitler would be proud”.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Daniel Aghion, who attended the vigil in Caulfield, said the Jewish community had called for the return of the 227 hostages.
“The comparison between that peaceful event and these hateful and anti-Semitic signs could not be more stark,” he said.
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said anti-Israel protesters were “far more interested” in attacking Jews than caring for the wellbeing of Palestinians.
“If they did genuinely care about the innocent Palestinians who are suffering in Gaza, they would be calling for Hamas to release not just the Israeli hostages, but the two million Palestinians who are being held hostage as well,” he said.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich said: “This vile exploitation of the Holocaust and despicable use of Nazi imagery to demonise the Israeli PM and the Jewish community is another outrage which trivialises history’s darkest chapter.”
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said there were no major incidents of note.
“However, as a matter of course, police will review any vision or CCTV from the day,” she said.
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