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UPDATEDPro-Palestine protests erupt across Australia ahead of anniversary of Hamas attack
Anthony Albanese has found himself at the centre of fury as tens of thousands of pro-Palestine protesters swarm the CBDs of Australia’s biggest cities.
More than ten thousand people marched through the streets of Sydney’s CBD for a passionate pro-Palestinian protest on Sunday.
The crowd could be heard chanting “Free, Free Palestine” as they made their way through the streets, escorted by police.
Many were seen wearing different coloured keffiyehs or draped with the Palestinian flag as they clutched signs calling for Australia to cut ties with Israel.
Organisers led a chant of “Labor Party, blood on your hands” before turning their ire on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, and NSW Premier Chris Minns.
With more than ten thousand protesters, including children and elderly people in wheelchairs, the crowd of protesters was so large that they were required to keep pausing so the start of the rally didn’t run into its tail end.
Children could be seen throughout the crowd, on the shoulders of parents or beating drums as they marched alongside Aussies of all ages.
Others among the ten thousand strong crowd carried red smoke sticks as they walked through the streets of Sydney’s CBD during the peaceful demonstration.
“There is more spilled blood in Gaza than drinkable water,” a stark sign read.
While not participating in the march, a man wearing a keffiyeh showed his solidarity with the cause by holding a Palestinian flag in one hand and a drink in the other.
In addition to a large number of uniformed officers, mounted police could be seen along the protest route.
As the crowd poured back into Hyde Park, a helicopter hovered overhead to monitor their progress.
ALBANESE ‘COMPLICIT’: PROTESTERS
In speeches made earlier in the day, Anthony Albanese was accused of being “complicit in the continued genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza.
First Nations activist Lizzie Jarrett addressed thousands of pro-Palestine protesters in Sydney’s Hyde Park, comparing Israel’s military action against Islamist group Hamas to the plight of Indigenous Australians.
“That’s why we stand here. That’s why we will always show up for our Palestinian family,” Ms Jarrett said, as protesters shouted, “shame, shame Albanese”.
“He’s arming, he’s funding, he’s being complicit in the continued genocide of innocent civilians.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and NSW Premier Chris Minns were also the centre of “shame” chants.
The Albanese government says Australia has not supplied Israel with weapons in the past five years, and has backed curbing arms to the country.
Israel’s military action in densely populated Gaza has not been ruled genocide by the International Court of Justice.
Peter Dutton has also drawn the ire of protesters, with Palestinian photographer Tom Toby calling the Opposition Leader “maggot” and a “piece of s***”.
“(He’s) been saying he’s going to come after us,” Mr Toby said.
“We’re coming after you on election day, when you will be swept into the sewers of Australian politics.”
‘NOT US’: PROTESTERS DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM HAMAS
Palestinian Action Group’s Amal Nasser said protesters “will not be deterred”.
“We have built the largest and longest sustained anti war movement in this country’s history,” she said.
“They were terrified of the numbers this week. They were terrified of the mass dissent to this genocide and our government’s unfettered support.”
Ms Nasser criticised ongoing narrative that pro-Palestinian rallies supported terrorism.
“It is not us who supports terrorism but our government,” she said.
“We must continue to escalate until we win, until the Palestinian people and the entire region is liberated from Zionism.”
Signs have been posted around Hyde Park after protesters carried the flag of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah last week.
“An important message from the New South Wales Police Force. The Hezbollah flag, symbols and portraits of (slain Hezbollah leader) Hassan Hasrallah should not be displayed at the public assembly as this may amount to a criminal offence,” the sign read.
‘NOT GOING TO STOP’: PROTESTERS HIT BACK
Palestinian Action Group spokesman Josh Lees told NewsWire pro-Palestine rallies would continue until “Palestine is free”, hours after authorities said they did not want “the war in the Middle East played out on our streets”.
He said the group was expecting tens of thousands of protesters to march through Sydney’s CBD on Sunday.
“We’ve had 12 months of genocide in the Gaza Strip, now another invasion of Lebanon by Israel,” he said.
“We’ve seen the attempts by the government and the police to shut down and stop this protest, which means I think even more people are going to come today because they’re outraged by the treatment the protesters have got over the past week.”
Mr Lees labelled the bid by NSW Police to prevent Sunday’s protest as a “racist campaign” against one of the country’s biggest anti-war movements.
After 52 weeks of nonviolent marches to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza, Mr Lees said the support has been “incredible”.
“I think it’s a testament to … the goodness of ordinary people, that they can see that there’s an atrocity going on, whatever background they are,” he said.
“What we’re saying today as well, is that this isn’t just the end of a year of mass protests. This is the beginning of another year of mass protests until Palestine is free.”
Upward of 40,000 have been killed by Israel’s military action in Gaza, which was sparked by a horrifying surprise assault from Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
Around 1200 were killed in the attacks, much of which were captured in graphic videos celebrated by militants online.
Mr Lees said protests in Australia would “keep going and they’ll keep growing”.
Addressing the crowd later in the day, Mr Lees said the story of the past year of protests has been a story of constant struggle.
“When we fight for Palestinian liberation, we come up against an entire system,” he said.
“We say we are ready to take on that system. We’ve built an absolutely incredible, massive, sustained protest movement this year with people from every background.”
Mr Lees said the strength of the movement was obvious in the enormous size of the crowd.
“We are the people … we will not be silent,” he said.
“However long it takes, we will fight against rotten, numerous, racist system.
“We are just getting started.”
‘I’M HUMAN’: TEEN’S PROTEST PLEDGE
A teenager at the Sydney demonstration told NewsWire she feels compelled to protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza because “I’m human”.
15-year-old Palestinian Australian Tala Salam said there is an obligation to speak up against the atrocities being committed in her ancestral homeland.
“You can’t act like seeing beheaded babies is normal,” she said.
“You can’t live life as normal.”
Ms Salam revealed her parents are Palestinian refugees and her grandparents were among those forced from their homes during the Nakba, a period of mass dispossession and displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
“If my parents, my grandparents could not continue their fight for their land, I will continue for them, as my kids will continue for them, and we will fight to see a free Palestine,” she pledged.
“We will not continue to see our people murdered. We will not stay silent.”
POLICE “PLEASED”
Speaking to the media after the protest concluded on Sunday afternoon, NSWAssistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said he was “very pleased” that the protest in Sydney had gone so smoothly.
“That was a significant crowd ... they complied with what we asked them to do,” he said.
“I’m quite happy with the police operation and how things went today.”
NSW Police have arrested a 56-year-old man who allegedly displayed a Nazi symbol on a sign, but Mr McKenna said he wasn’t aware of any other arrests arising from the protest.
He was asked about flags that appeared to be skirting the line of the banned images, including yellow and green flags similar to the Hezbollah flag, but said legal advice had been that the flags did not amount to an offence under the “nuanced legislation”.
STERN WARNINGS
Authorities earlier issued stern warnings as Australia’s biggest cities weather controversial pro-Palestine protests.
In Melbourne, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said her state’s police were ready to react to anything that threatened “community safety.”
“They are well prepared with the tools and the resources and the powers that they need to be able to respond to any instances that may threaten community safety,” she told reporters.
Ms Allan renewed her criticism of demonstrations set to go ahead on Monday, the actual anniversary of Hamas’ attacks.
“It’s critically important to re-emphasise that October 7 is not a day to protest, it’s not a day to add to the deep grief and trauma that is being experienced by so many in our community,” Ms Allan said.
“It should be a day of understanding. We need to pause and see that conflict in the Middle East should not bring conflict to the streets of Melbourne or Victoria.”
Meanwhile, in Sydney, a massive rally is underway despite police attempts to block it.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has warned there would be “no tolerance” for criminal behaviour.
“People do have the right to protest in a liberal democracy, but please be mindful of what you say, of your actions, because they really do matter,” she told reporters.
“The police have a role to keep our streets safe and they will do that if everybody is doing the right thing.
“But if you’re not, you can expect to be arrested. It’s as simple as that.
“There will be no tolerance for misbehaviour. There will be no tolerance for racial slurs. Zero tolerance from the NSW Police.”
Pro-Palestine rallies have been held across the country every Sunday since Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group that administers the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel, and the protests continue to command strong crowds.
They came under increased scrutiny after flags of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, and framed pictures of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah appeared among the crowds.
“We do not want the war in the Middle East played out on our streets in Sydney,” Ms Catley said.
“That anger has no place here.”
Mr McKenna said there would be a “significant police presence” monitoring the rally, but would not be drawn on the exact number of officers involved.
He said “action will be taken” against anyone seen carrying a Hezbollah-related material, including pictures of Nasrallah.
He noted the image of Nasrallah was not illegal but “in certain circumstances it could be seen as offensive”.
NSW Police will be assisted by legal advisers throughout the day after the rallies following Nasrallah’s death saw widespread confusion about what constituted a chargeable offence.
ANNIVERSARY PROTEST NOW A VIGIL
Following an 11th-hour Supreme Court hearing between police and protest organisers, Palestine Action Group withdrew its application to protest on Monday, October 7, saying it would instead hold a vigil at Sydney’s Town Hall on that evening and a rally at Hyde Park on Sunday, October 6.
Palestine Action Group’s original plan for a protest on Monday drew intense criticism from federal and state politicians, who deemed it “grossly insensitive” to rally on a day that marks the greatest loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust.
But the group’s organisers said on Friday they “have a right to mourn” those killed by Israel’s military action against Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organisation that administers the densely populated Gaza Strip.
“It has led to 42,000 Palestinians being killed and we have a right to mourn them, and we have a right to declare that this is the anniversary of the start of this genocide,” the protest group’s Amal Nasser told reporters.
State and territory police forces pledged in a rare joint statement on Friday to enforce laws on banned symbols at any demonstrations.
“Police respect the right to peacefully protest and assemble in Australia; however, there will be no tolerance for illegal behaviour or violence on any day of the year,” the country’s police forces said in a joint statement.
“In Australia, there are offences that prohibit behaviour that incites or advocates violence or hatred based on race and religion, including the display of prohibited symbols in public under these circumstances.
“It is also a serious offence to counsel, promote, encourage, urge, instruct or praise terrorism.”
They said they would work with all “stakeholders”, including “community leaders and leaders of faith to ensure Australian laws are understood”.
PROTESTS A ‘MATTER FOR THE STATES’
Labor backbencher Josh Burns said on Sunday morning there are “not mechanisms by which the federal government could intervene” in the protests, despite calls for the Prime Minister to step in and stop the rallies.
Mr Burns, who chairs the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, told Sky News the right to gather was “fundamental” in Australia, but urged protesters to “consider another option.”
“What happens on our streets is a matter for the states, and to be frank, I support people’s right to protest – the right to gather and to associate is a fundamental right in Australia,” he said.
“I would also say that October 7 was, is a devastating day on the calendar, and for people to gather on that day sends a very terrible message about whether or not people are allowing their fellow Australians to grieve, and we must have the ability, for all of us, to grieve.”
Mr Burns’ comments came after Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the Prime Minister should have done more to stop the demonstrations.
Though, Senator Paterson seemed to acknowledge there was no legal framework for federal intervention.
He said he was talking more about using the “status of the office of prime minister”.
“What I am saying is the prime minister should have shown leadership, and I know that would be something surprising and new and different for him on these issues, but he should have made it clear, and he should have gone direct to community leaders and used the relationships and the status of the office of prime minister that he holds to say this is utterly unacceptable and it must not proceed,” he said.
Anthony Albanese and his federal cabinet have consistently called on protesters to abandon plans for demonstrations around October 7.
‘VIGILANT’: MINNS’ VOW
NSW Premier Chris Minns vowed to stop a repeat of last year’s infamous Opera House demonstrations as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters are expected to swarm the streets of Australia’s major cities ahead of the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.
Mr Minns said on Sunday last year’s protests, where some participants clashed with police and chanted antisemitic slogans, were “a mistake” he had to “bear responsibility for”.
“I apologised at the time,” he told Sky News.
“We can’t allow that to happen again, and that’s part of the reason why police were so vigilant about planned protest activity this Sunday and Monday.”
Mr Minns said the police move to block protests around the anniversary, which he staunchly supported, “wasn’t to restrict freedom of speech” but to avoid public displays of “hatred and racism.”
“We can’t have a situation where hundreds of people hijack a march, end up down at the Opera House and in a violent confrontation with police,” he said.
“Those images were spread on the front pages of newspapers around the world, and it gave Sydney and Australia a terrible reputation during that period. I’m determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“Now, part of that is ensuring that we’re vigilant about these protests. NSW Police are ready.”
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