Key Points
- Thousands have marched in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to commemmorate Palestinians and Lebanese killed.
- Monday marks the first anniversary of Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel.
- It also marks a year of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, killing over 41,000 people.
NSW Police confirmed a 56-year-old man was arrested and later charged, for holding up an Israeli flag with a Nazi swastika in the position of its Star of David.
Police checking green and yellow flags during a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Some individuals were carrying flags with green and yellow, which are the colours of Hezbollah’s official ensign.
She said she wore costumes to make children feel safe at the protest and to spread the message the protests are not violent.
Shorna Southwell has been coming to the protests almost every week dressed as a different ‘princess’ to show children that people care about their safety and these protests are not violent. Source: SBS News / Phoebe Deas
Melbourne rally commemorates Palestinians killed
Australian Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni spoke of the Palestinians killed in Gaza, addressing huge crowds gathered outside the State Library of Victoria.
Paper kites with the names of Palestinian children, in Melbourne. Source: SBS News / Tys Occhiuzzi
“It’s shameful that we’re being asked to be respectful when we’ve had 365 October 7s in this period,” he said.
“They are well prepared with the tools and the resources and the powers that they need to be able to respond to any instances that may threaten community safety,” she said.
Mohammed has attended the weekly protest in Melbourne for the first time. Source: Supplied / Tys Occhiuzzi
Australia’s Lebanese population is estimated at around 250,000.
“Children should not be getting killed. Under any circumstances. Israeli, Muslim, Christian, Jewish – children should not be killed,” he said.
Taznim said five of her family members were killed last night. Source: SBS News / Tys Occhiuzzi
Palestinian woman Taznim told SBS News five of her family members had been killed overnight in Gaza.
“We’re devastated. It’s been a year of getting news about families being annihilated in Gaza. It has to stop.”
Government says protests “regrettable”
“The protests that are happening over the course of today and tomorrow are deeply regrettable,” he told ABC’s Insiders program.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the timing of the demonstration lacked “compassion” and there was a high prospect of violence when tensions were high.
NSW Police warning against Hezbollah flags during a Pro-Palestine rally in Sydney, 6 October 2024. Source: AAP / aap
“Most people would agree that we’re not going to do much about Middle Eastern violence from Sydney, and we have to do everything we possibly can to prevent that kind of violence in Sydney,” he said.
Federal opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the federal government should have made a bigger effort to persuade community leaders not to hold the rallies.
In response, Israel unleashed a bombing campaign and ground invasion of Gaza, killing almost 42,000 people, displacing 1.9 million and leaving another 500,000 with catastrophic levels of food insecurity, local health ministry sources report.
People have gathered in Australia on Sunday at a rally ahead of the first anniversary of Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel. Source: SBS News / Tys Occhiuzzi
Hezbollah is listed as a terrorist organisation by countries including Australia, the US, Germany and the UK. The European Union lists only its military wing as a terrorist organisation.
With additional reporting by AAP.