SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has issued a stern warning to pro-Palestinian protesters ahead of a planned October 7 rally

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has issued a stern warning to protesters as an MP has urged state leaders to cancel pro-Palestine protests in Adelaide.

Anyone who raises a Hezbollah flag or an image of the deceased leader of Hezbollah at a planned protest by a pro-Palestinian group will face police action, according to SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

His comments on Thursday morning come after the South Australian parliament approved a protest by a pro-Palestinian group on the first anniversary of the October 7 terrorist atrocity, prompting pleas to Premier Peter Malinauskas to call on police to cancel it.

Mr Stevens told FIVEaa morning radio state-based legislation was clear; “any material that condones or supports, promotes a terrorist organisation or terrorism can be the subject of prosecution under state law”.

“Our main priority is that any protest, regardless of the cause, is conducted peacefully and minimises disruptions to members of the community,” he said.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo has written letters urging Mr Malinauskas and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens to ban pro-Palestine protests scheduled for this Sunday October 6, as well as a 15-hour demonstration to take place on the anniversary of the attacks.

The two Justice for Palestine events have been organised by Lil Aqsa and will be staged on the steps of Parliament House, according to a schedule of approved demonstrations that has been circulated to MPs.

Similar protests due to take place in Sydney over the weekend have been challenged by NSW Police, which has applied to the Supreme Court to have the events cancelled.

Mr Pangallo said he was fearful that the Adelaide-based events also had the potential to escalate, “causing trouble and potential harm to people”.

“While I am a strong supporter of free speech and the democratic right to peaceful protests and assembly, these protests are likely to be quite incendiary given the volatile events that have marred similar recent protests interstate where protesters showed their support for proscribed terrorist organisations, Hamas and Hezbollah,” Mr Pangallo said.

“These dates represent days of mourning for Israel and thousands of Jewish people.

“The timing of the protests this weekend could not come at a worse time with global tensions rising significantly overnight following Iran’s attack on Israel and a likely retaliation by Israel.”

He said protests held on the steps of parliament required approval, which, in this case, should not have been granted.

Frank Pangallo is calling for pro-Palestine protests scheduled for October 6 and 7 to be cancelled. Picture NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

More than 1200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and another 250 were taken hostage when Hamas militants stormed across Gaza’s border into Israel on October 7, 2023.

Mr Malinauskas said the state government would seek advice from SA Police on the planned protests and any potential response.

“It would be extremely disconcerting if South Australians thought it appropriate to stage a protest on that day of all days, given the trauma inflicted by the horrendous actions of Hamas in killing and kidnapping so many innocent civilians in the October 7 attack,” he said

On Wednesday morning, before Mr Pangallo sent his letter, Mr Stevens said there were no current plans to prevent pro-Palestine protests – but police expect that protests remain peaceful, civil and respectful.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: RoyVPhotography.

Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“That advice may come to me in due course but as I said … we have expectations in relation to the conduct of those protests and if they step outside of those expectations then we would be looking at further action,” he said.

On Wednesday night he added: “SAPOL is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with relevant stakeholders”.

But Jewish community leader Norman Schueler said the events should be cancelled.

“We can safely assume they will be pro-Hezbollah and, on that basis, since they are a prescribed terrorist organisation, anyone who attends could be construed to be breaking the law,” he said.

“If people are celebrating October the 7th and the so-called glory of the 7th then they are complicit and those are not the sort of people we want in our society.

“I think out of respect for their fellow Australians, they ought to be cancelling the events.”

Islamic Society of South Australia president Ahmed Zreika, who resigned from the state’s peak multicultural board saying the state government was choosing one side over another, said his organisation was not aware of the protest, and would not be joining it.

“Regarding the presence of a Hezbollah flag at recent protests in other states (not in South Australia), our focus remains on advocating for peaceful solutions and avoiding symbols or actions that may inflame tensions,” he said.

“We believe the emphasis should be on humanitarian concerns and justice for all communities, rather than on divisive symbols that could detract from the core message.”

Originally published as SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has issued a stern warning to pro-Palestinian protesters ahead of a planned October 7 rally