Geelong councillor says Israel is to blame for conflict as Corio MP Richard Marles describes Hamas attack as “abhorrent”

Geelong’s only Socialist Alliance councillor has weighed into the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza.

A pro-Palestinian rally was held in Sydney on Monday. A similar rally is planned for Melbourne this weekend. Photo: Dean Lewins.

A Geelong councillor says the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians by the Israeli government is the catalyst for the current conflict.

Sarah Hathway remains steadfast in her support of Palestine following a surprise incursion into Israel on the weekend by Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant organisation.

Ms Hathway was elevated to council in June as an endorsed Socialist Alliance candidate.

Socialist Alliance is a far-left political organisation that advocates for Australia to cease ties with Israel.

Ms Hathway said she supported its position that “the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by the neo-colonial settler state of Israel is the primary cause of the escalating violence taking place”.

“Nobody supports the killing of civilians on either side but I understand why this has occurred,” she said.

Geelong councillor Sarah Hathway Photo: Mark Wilson.

“It has been 75 years since Palestinian people lost the rights to nearly all of their land.”

Coincidentally, as Hamas launched its offensive from Gaza into southern Israel on Saturday, Ms Hathway was attending a Palestinian Eye Witness event at Geelong Trades Hall.

Attendees were told of “the thousands of Palestinian children who are jailed via (Israeli’s) military court system each year, and who feel like they have no future”.

“This helps to explain why recent events have occurred,” she said.

Alongside deputy mayor Anthony Aitken, Ms Hathway is one of two Windermere ward councillors, representing Geelong’s northern suburbs.

She said she could not attend a Rally for Palestine march in Melbourne this Sunday due to existing commitments, but “fully supported” those who do.

A pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney on Monday saw the Israeli flag burnt amid an abundance of anti-Semitic slurs.

Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Daniel Aghion said far-left political parties such as Socialist Alliance had displayed atrocious judgment through their support of Hamas.

“It is beyond belief that anybody could consider endorsing the activities of a group that has murdered young children and elderly people in cold blood, slaughtered young people enjoying a music festival and shot people doing nothing more than waiting for a bus,” he said.

As retaliatory bombardment of Gaza continued, Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of the 360sq kilometre enclave, cutting off electricity and fuel, as well as food and water supplies.

Palestinian supporters march towards the Sydney Opera House during a rally on Monday. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams.

“We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly,” he reportedly said.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan sympathised with members of the Geelong community who have ties to the region.

“We hope to see a swift end to the destruction and loss of life,” he said.

Corio MP Richard Marles described the Hamas attack as “abhorrent”.

“There is no justification for these brutal attacks on Israel,” he said.

Joy Leggo, chief executive of Geelong-based multicultural support service Cultura, said the situation was “deeply unsettling”.

“Alongside the death toll and injuries caused, there are families being ripped apart, hospitals and places of worship decimated, thousands of people displaced from their homes,” she said.

Approximately 1200 Israelis have been killed so far in the conflict, including women and children, while Hamas is holding at least 100 hostages in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

Originally published as Geelong councillor says Israel is to blame for conflict as Corio MP Richard Marles describes Hamas attack as “abhorrent”