Government condemns Hezbollah flags at Melbourne protests

Federal Police will investigate after flags of terrorist group Hezbollah appeared at pro-Palestine rallies over the weekend, leading to widespread anger.

The Australian Federal Police will investigate “at least six reports of crime” after the flag of terrorist organisation Hezbollah was brandished at weekend rallies.

The appearance of the flags at rallies in Sydney and Melbourne sparked condemnation from political leaders, leading Anthony Albanese to warn about “radical ideologies”.

The Prime Minister renewed Australia’s “call for a de-escalation” between Israel and Hezbollah on Monday, but said elements of the weekend’s protests were “worrying”.

“We have continued to call for a de-escalation of that conflict in the Middle East,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

“At the same time we’ve seen worrying signs over the weekend. We do not want people to bring radical ideologies and conflict here.

“Our multiculturalism and social cohesion cannot be taken for granted and it’s important that we continue to stress that that is the case as we go forward as well.”

The AFP late on Monday issued a statements saying it would investigate, after earlier

The AFP will now investigate the waving of Hezbollah flags at a large rally in Melbourne on Sunday against Israel’s military action in Lebanon. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

The AFP said it was expecting the cases to be referred by Victoria Police.

“The AFP has no tolerance for individuals who break the law and will use its extensive capability and networks to take action,” an AFP spokeswoman said.

“Matters referred to the AFP will be reviewed to determine if actions reach thresholds to charge under the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Act 2023.”

Under the law, those who display terrorist symbols face jail terms of up to 12 months.

Protesters against Israel’s military action in Lebanon and Gaza took to the streets of the country’s biggest cities on Saturday and Sunday, with some carrying Hezbollah flags and holding framed portraits of the Lebanese terrorist group’s slain leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that Nasrallah, one of its founding members, was killed in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.

Large rallies were held in both in Sydney and Melbourne following the escalating assault on Lebanon against Hezbollah targets. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has been in New York advocating Australia’s call for a ceasefire and a “clear timeline” for Palestinian statehood since last week.

She also championed a global push for better protections for aid workers in all conflict zones.

Weighing in on the shows of support for Hezbollah at the demonstrations, Senator Wong called on political leaders to “reject terrorism and extremism.”

“We condemn any indication of support for a terrorist organisation such as (Hezbollah),” Senator Wong posted on X.

“It not only threatens national security, but fuels fear and division in our communities.

All of us – including every political leader – must stand together to reject terrorism and extremism.”

We condemn any indication of support for a terrorist organisation such as Hizballah.

It not only threatens national security, but fuels fear and division in our communities.

All of us - including every political leader - must stand together to reject terrorism and extremism.

— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) September 30, 2024

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the government should be “arresting people already”.

“We’ve got Jewish schools where we’ve got armed guards out the front of, there are people who are living in the Jewish community in fear and there is an absolute outrage in relation to the glorification of a terrorist leader, which surely must be against the Australian law,” Mr Dutton told 4BC radio.

“And if it’s not, the parliament should be recalled to pass a law that prohibits that from happening.

“I find it completely unacceptable that the government wouldn’t be arresting people already, or cancelling visas of people who are glorifying Hezbollah and Hamas and others.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Sunday vowed to consider refusing or cancelling visas for anyone supporting terrorist organisations.

More than 1000 people have been killed and about one million displaced in Lebanon after cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel escalated rapidly over the past two weeks.

With Nasrallah and most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership dead, the terrorist group is all-but decapitated.

But Israel has vowed to continue striking until Israelis can return to their homes in northern Israel.

They were forced from the their homes after Hezbollah began firing rockets at civilians areas in solidarity with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.