Calls for Palestinian flag on Sydney Opera House quashed by NSW Premier Minns

After Israel’s colours lit up the Sydney Opera House, protesters called for the same to be done for Palestine’s flag in support of those killed and displaced on the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian protesters in Sydney have been approved to hold a rally on Saturday to decry Israel’s advancement on the Gaza Strip. Picture: David Swift

NSW Premier Chris Minns has been labelled “hypocritical” for refusing to light up the Opera House with the Palestinian flag following a horrific strike of a hospital in Gaza on Wednesday, despite calls from federal MPs and activists.

Industry Minister Ed Husic and federal colleague Anne Aly, the Early Childhood Education Minister, on Thursday called on governments to advocate for Palestinians suffering during the ongoing conflict.

Dr Aly said that Palestinians felt “invisible” and that “it’s difficult to argue that what is currently occurring is not a form of collective punishment”.

Mr Husic asked why landmarks had not been lit in the colours of the Palestine flag, as they were with the Israeli flag earlier this month following an attack by terrorist group Hamas.

“We don’t see any public landmarks in Australia that are being lit up in red, black, white and green,” he said. “I feel very strongly that Palestinians are being collectively punished here for Hamas’s barbarism.”

However, Mr Minns said that lighting the Opera House in the colours of the Israel flag was only in response to “the immediate aftermath of a vicious and brutal mass murder” by Hamas.

“We won’t be lighting it up further in relation to this conflict, and I think that is the appropriate decision,” he said.

Federal Industry Minister Ed Husic says he did not believe it was in Israel’s long-term interest to ‘engage in the occupation of Gaza’, and called for de-escalation to occur. Picture: Martin Ollman

Palestine Action Group Sydney co-organiser Josh Lees said that the NSW government’s “hypocrisy” was why a protest rally was held at the Opera House on October 9.

“It would be a step forward if they started lighting up monuments with a Palestinian flag,” he said, although “we won’t be holding our breath”.

“The Australian government, even right now as Israel is carrying out war crimes in Gaza, is still saying they stand unequivocally with Israel … but that’s something (lighting landmarks) we’ll continue to demand.”

Mr Lees said the Palestine Action Group had received approval to hold another protest on Saturday, at Sydney’s Town Hall from 1pm. He said that several safety measures had been put in place to ensure the rally remained peaceful, in line with last week’s protest.

Mr Minns said Saturday’s rally was authorised and that there were no plans to close it down.