Pro-Palestine group vows to push ahead with ‘distasteful’ demonstration

A pro-Palestine protest group will push ahead with “distasteful” demonstrations around the anniversary of the worst loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.

Pro-Palestine protesters have vowed to go ahead with rallies on the weekend, which marks the first anniversary of Hamas’ horrific attacks on Israel, despite condemnation from political leaders.

Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group that administers Gaza, conducted a surprise assault on Israel on 7 October last year, killing 1200 people in the worst mass loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has gone to court to stop two planned events for Sydney.

Organisers said they had scrapped plans for a rally on Monday, the anniversary of the October 7 attacks. The court hearing on the Sunday action is continuing.

Earlier on Thursday, Josh Lees of the Palestine Action Group said the vigil planned for Monday, along with the Sunday protest, would go ahead regardless of what the NSW Supreme Court decided.

“We are determined … we’ve been protesting for 51 consecutive weeks now, we’re certainly not going to stop now, especially as Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues and now they are starting an invasion of Lebanon,” Mr Lees told the ABC.

Pro-Palestine protesters in Sydney have vowed to go ahead with the vigil. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“We’re planning a major demonstration on Sunday (October 6) to mark one year since Israel’s genocide in Gaza began.”

He said his group was “determined to mark and commemorate that horror that’s taken place and to demand that it stop.”

“On Monday (October 7) evening, we’re just planning a small candlelight vigil to commemorate those that have been killed over the past year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Australian Federal Police has announced it has established a new task force, Operation Ardvarna, to investigate the waving of Hezbollah flags and chants during Sunday’s protests.

The AFP confirmed it was investigating nine complaints alleging attendees publicly displayed prohibited symbols during the marches, which potentially incited or advocated violence, or hatred on the basis of race or religion.

Federal investigators will help state police by assessing referrals, identifying persons of interest and assisting investigations.

“The nine investigations undertaken by the AFP are a priority,” the statement said.

“However, the community can be assured that the AFP is also continuing to focus on its primary role that it does 365 days a year – that includes investigating and disrupting terrorism, radicalisation, foreign interference and espionage.”

Signs of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah were displayed at the Sydney protests. Picture: NewsWire/ Damian Shaw

Upwards of 40,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military action in Gaza, a densely populated Palestinian territory riddled with weapons depots and tunnels used by Hamas militants.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has not ruled that Israel is committing genocide.

Recent Israeli ground and air operations on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon were sparked by the terrorist group’s ceaseless bombardment of civilian areas in Israel’s north that has forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

Demonstrations in Australia are facing increased scrutiny after flags of Hezbollah, and framed pictures of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, appeared at pro-Palestine rallies last weekend.

NSW Premier Chris Minns backed NSW Police’s decision. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier stood by the police decision, saying any protest on Monday “shows no sympathy for the fact that this was a terrible terrorist incident in Israel and there people who are grieving”.

He said it was and was “distasteful at best”.

“But obviously that’s a matter for people if they want to put in an application … I suspect I’m not going to convince them otherwise,” Mr Minns said.

He dismissed the idea that a small vigil was likely to take place on October 7, as Palestine Action Group had said.

“That’s not out of pure conjecture or a hypothesis, 12 months ago on the streets of Sydney, a protest or a vigil that was meant to take place in Town Hall ended up all the way down at the Opera House and on the front pages of newspapers right around the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, police in Victoria have said they do “not have the power” to block similar planned demonstrations because the Garden State does not have a permit system for protests.

Victorian Premier Jactina Allan says her state does not need a NSW-style permit system for protests. Picture: NewsWire / Aaron Francis

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday brushed off questions from reporters about a NSW-style permit system, saying her state’s police already had “the tools and the resources they need to protect community safety”.

“The permit system is no guarantee that protests won’t go ahead,” she told reporters.

“Do we really think that individuals with hatred in their heart, with a desire to cause ongoing division, potentially carrying flags of proscribed terrorist organisations, do you really think they’re going to apply for a permit? And do you really think they’re going to follow the requirements of that permit?”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says if the Victorian government wanted to stop pro-Palestine demonstrations on October 7 it would. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Peter Dutton accused the Victorian government of “hiding behind an argument of convenience”.

“The Premier is at odds with the majority of Victorians who would not support the celebration of death,” the federal Opposition Leader told reporters in Melbourne.

“What is the justification for the Premier here not to do everything at her disposal to stop these protests from taking place?

“She was part of a government that deployed the police force here in Victoria during the course of Covid to enforce the rule of law and I think the Victorian Labor Party should have the same resolve in relation to this issue.

“If there is a will, there is a way to stop these protests.”

Both the Albanese government and the Coalition have condemned planned demonstrations around the anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel.

Originally published as Pro-Palestine group vows to push ahead with ‘distasteful’ demonstration