Never Again is Now rally to hit Brisbane CBD on Sunday, June 9

Tight security is expected to surround a massive rally in Brisbane on Sunday as part of a movement which vows to ‘push back the hate’ in wake of the October 7 massacre. It comes as Israel has launched a fresh attack in Gaza.

Tight security is expected to surround a massive rally in Brisbane on Sunday as part of a movement which vows to ‘push back the hate’ in wake of the October 7 massacre and war in Gaza.

The location of the Stop the Hate, Mate rally is being kept secret, apart from those registered to attend, amid concerns it could be targeted by anti-Israel protesters.

Thousands are expected to attend the Never Again is Now meeting, to bring together Queenslanders from multiple religious, ethnic and political groups.

The rally will hear from political representatives, community leaders, a member of the anti Islamic-fundamentalist Iranian community, Christian pastors and indigenous supporters.

Deputy Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie, Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg and young anti-Semitism activist Freya Leach are among those expected to speak at the event which starts from 1.30pm.

Former PM Scott Morrison spoke at the first rally in Sydney which attracted more than 10,000 people.

Sunday’s pro-Israel rally comes amid global outrage over the soaring death toll and destruction in Gaza where UN data suggests more than half of all buildings have been destroyed or damaged.

The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 36,500 people have been killed, mostly civilians. Israel maintains the numbers are inflated and include Hamas fighters.

Jewish people and supporters rally in Melbourne.

Never Again is Now campaign co-founder Reverend Mark Leach said many Australians were wanting to make a stand against the anti-Semitism seen at university campuses, protests targeting MPs and businesses with Israel connections.

In Melbourne, six people were arrested after pro-Palestinian demonstrators targeted the pro-Israel rally, attended by more than 7000.

Pro-Palestine activists clash with members of Victoria Police as a "Never Again is Now" pro-Israel rally occurred. (Photo by Diego Fedele/Getty Images)

It was revealed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been locked out of his Sydney electorate office this year because of pro-Palestinian protests.

His Marrickville office has not been used since January. Security around Mr Albanese, other MPs and in Parliament House has been tightened amid vandalism of MPs’ offices.

Rev Leach, whose mother fled the Holocaust from Germany in 1938, said the ‘river to the sea’ chants heard on Australian streets were calling for the genocide of the Jewish state.

Rev. Mark Leach says Australians have to stand up for the values they believed in.

Mr Leach said similar events in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide had attracted not only Christians and Jews but also ordinary Australians who were just concerned about Australian values being under attack.

“What is happening today on our streets and university campuses is un-Australian; we need social cohesion, not division,’’ Rev Leach said.

“We promote love not hate, and our rallies aim to push back the hate,” he said.

Freya Leach from Never Again will be among the younger voices at the Brisbane rally. Picture: Matt Loxton

Rev Leach said it was ‘alarming’ to see ‘open support for Hamas, designated by the Australian and many other governments as a terrorist group.”

Rev. Leach made national headlines when he was chased by angry pro-Palestine supporters who took to the streets on October 9, two days after the October 7 massacre with vile chants against Jewish people.

He had defied police advice to make a stand, taking out an Israeli flag and waving it.

“The police had to protect me. This anti-Israel protest occurred before Israel had even started to defend itself from the October 7 attack.”

Rev. Leach said there had been a more than 800% increase in antisemitic incidents, including violence, in Australia in the past six months, and it was still rising.

You can register for the Brisbane rally to be notified of more details.

Originally published as Never Again is Now rally to hit Brisbane CBD on Sunday, June 9