Greens leader Adam Bandt slams alleged ‘slander’ at furious pro-Palestine rally

The Greens leader has hit back after a bruising week, addressing a pro-Palestine rally and calling on the Prime Minister to expel Israel’s ambassador to Australia.

A defiant Adam Bandt has pushed back against alleged “slander” directed at Australia’s pro-Palestine movement and Greens party, telling protesters “we are going to prevail”.

It follows a bruising week in federal parliament in which both Labor and the Coalition accused the Greens of stirring up social division over the Israel-Gaza war.

Speaking to rallygoers in Melbourne on Sunday, the Greens leader praised protesters for showing up for “35 weeks” across major cities and criticised suggestions the movement was anything other than “peaceful”.

“Let me say this, not for your benefit because you know this already, but for their benefit, for everyone who has been slandering this movement for peace,” he said.

“We all know, there is no place for violence against people, against politicians, against the people who work for them, or against their offices.

“We all know that. What we are pushing for is peace.

“Peace here and peace in Gaza. Peace for the Israelis and for the Palestinians. That is what we are pushing for.”

The Free Palestine Rally in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Last Wednesday during question time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called out the Greens for what he called “misinformation” over the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“Unacceptable that misinformation is being ­consciously and deliberately spread by some Greens senators and MPs, who have engaged in this in demonstrations outside ­offices and online”, the Prime Minister said.

“That includes knowingly misrepresenting motions that are moved in this parliament.

“Enough is enough.”

He was backed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

The electorate offices of MPs have been vandalised with pro-Palestine slogans in recent weeks, including graffiti accusing members of complicity in alleged “genocide”.

Mr Dutton on Thursday called the Greens “evil” on the 2GB radio station.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt speaks at the rally. Picture: X

Multiple protesters sported Keffiyeh headscarves. Picture: NewsWire / Ian Currie

“I think that people need to have a conversation with their kids and their grandkids, with their next-door neighbours, just about how evil the current Greens party is, that they’re nothing about the environment,” he said.

“They’re all about radical causes.”

But Mr Bandt was unapologetic about his positions on Sunday and reiterated his call for the Labor government to ramp up diplomatic pressure on the Jewish state.

He called on the government to expel the Israeli ambassador to Australia, sanction Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cancel any military trade with Israel.

Mr Bandt also said the pressure within parliament was “building” and the pro-Palestine movement was “growing in strength”.

“When they first ignore, after ridiculing you, and then they turn on you and try and fight you by slandering you … you know that they know that they are wrong,” he said.

A man is helped after being pepper sprayed. Picture: NewsWire / Ian Currie

The rally took place outside the State Library. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“And this is the final step before they admit they are wrong and take action.

“Because I can tell you, from inside that building, the pressure is growing.

“This peaceful and powerful movement to end the invasion and end the occupation … is just growing in strength.

“We are going to prevail.”

Free Palestine Melbourne organised the rally, which was held at the State Library.

Protesters chanted “1,2,3,4 … we don’t want your bloody war, and 5,6,7,8 … Israel is a terrorist state.”

They also chanted: “Albo, Albo, shame, shame … you don’t speak in our name.”