Burgertory boss Hash Tayeh among high-profile Palestinian organisers to pull pin on protests
Melbourne’s pro-Palestine protest movement is splintering as high-profile activists step back from weekly rallies post-ceasefire.
The organisers of Melbourne’s weekly pro-Palestine protests have split over the post-ceasefire future of the rallies, with Burgertory boss Hash Tayeh and others pulling out after this week.
The Australian can reveal organisers had a private meeting on Saturday to discuss the continuation of weekly protests following a blowback from Victoria’s peak business lobby, who say families have been discouraged from venturing into the CBD in recent times.
It’s understood a number of high-profile activists will cease to attend weekly protests from next week, a move that came as a surprise for supporters of the movement.
Among them is Mr Tayeh of the Liberation Crew, who will stop attending protests from next week as he shifts his focus to “advocacy, rebuilding, and accountability” efforts both locally and internationally.
Hardline activist Ihab Alazhari of the ‘Sit-Intifada’ will also cease to attend weekly protests from next week.
Mr Alzhari and his son, Ibrahim, have been embroiled in controversy after this masthead revealed the family steel manufacturing business was engaged in large government and private-sector projects that operate in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
The decision marks a shift in strategy following extensive demonstrations spanning over a year.
However, Victoria’s largest campaign group, Free Palestine Melbourne (FPM), will continue to show up every weekend under the leadership of the president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN), Nasser Mashni, who has vowed to continue.
It comes as Anthony Albanese warned on Friday last week that “professional protesters” needed to ensure they “cooled” societal tensions post the ceasefire deal.
The Prime Minister ruled out formally recognising a Palestinian state before the next election, signalling he will back such a move only if Hamas played no future role in a new nation.
Speaking with The Australian, Mr Tayeh said Mr Albanese had been attending pro-Palestinian rallies before being elected in May 2022.
“Albanese supported a Palestinian state before being elected, to the extent of attending rallies and even being outspoken,” he said.
“Albanese, remember your humanity and don’t sell your soul to the highest bidder, the survival of innocence depends on it.”
A ceasefire celebration event will take place on Sunday evening on Melbourne’s inner city Sydney Road, where Gazan families who have relocated to Australia will have a “safe space” to engage with members of the community.
The gathering, open to all members of the public, will feature traditional Palestinian music, free food, and activities for children. Organisers have framed the ceasefire as a vital step toward Palestinian liberation while highlighting the need for continued action.
Key demands include holding Australians who fought with the Israeli Defense Forces accountable for alleged war crimes, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“This is a time to celebrate our survival, mourn our losses, and prepare for the work ahead,” Mr Tayeh said.
“This event also marks a turning point for the organisers. While some groups will continue weekly Sunday rallies, the focus for many will shift toward advocacy, rebuilding, and accountability efforts both locally and internationally.”
Mr Tayeh, who over the years has been subject to border force checks, claims his Melbourne restaurant was allegedly burned down for political reasons.
The firebombing of his restaurant was not the end, with police later dismissing a pig’s heart being dumped at one of his Burgertory stores’ doors as “just littering”, Mr Tayeh said.
A legal case into a firebombing incident at his home was then deemed a cold case by Victoria Police.
“This twisted act, meant to terrorise and demean, was brushed aside without investigation, leaving us with no recourse, no protection, and no support from those sworn to protect us,” he wrote.
Separately, organisers in Sydney and Brisbane remain adamant in holding protests indefinitely.
Socialist activist Josh Lees, who Mr Albanese referred to as a “professional protester”, said he would continue to march to demand an “end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories”.
Earlier this week, the Victorian and NSW leadership gave pro-Palestine protests a green light to continue as a ceasefire neared but vowed to arrest any Jew haters or supporters of extremist groups.
It comes as Sydney was rocked by another anti-Semitic attack in which cars were torched and a former home of a Jewish leader was vandalised.
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