Emergency rallies in several cities demanded the Labor government pressure Israel to release participants on Sumud Flotilla after it illegally stormed their vessels in international waters and are now illegally imprisoning them.
Turkish journalist and Gaza Sumud Flotilla participant Ersin Celik said he witnessed Israeli forces “torture Greta Thunberg” saying the Swedish activist was “dragged on the ground” and “forced to kiss the Israeli flag.” Adalah, an Israeli rights group providing legal aid, said detainees reported being forced to kneel with zip-tied hands for hours, denied medication and blocked from speaking with lawyers.
Hundreds of people rallied at short notice in Magan-djin/Brisbane on October 3 to protest Israel’s assault reports Alex Bainbridge. Speakers expressed their solidarity with the Sumud Flotilla and said Labor must do more than wring its hands over the six Australian participants. The protest marched through the Queen Street Mall, drawing support from passers-by.
APAN spokesperson Hiba Farra said Israel’s attack on the Sumud flotilla is “an attack on humanity”, adding the Australian government must “rise to this moment”.
“For almost two years, Israel has brazenly attacked those delivering and distributing humanitarian aid to Gaza, assassinating Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, detaining Australians on the Handala, Tan Safi and Robert Martin, and now the crew of the Sumud Flotilla.
“The international community must ensure Israel is held to account – for this attack, its ongoing genocide in Gaza, and for its illegal occupation and apartheid in Palestine – without obstruction and without delay. And Australia must no longer hesitate to play its part.”
Solidarity with the Sumud Flotilla was shown on Gadigal Country/Sydney on October 3 and 4, in protests organised by Students for Palestine.
Meanwhile, the NSW Police has initiated action against the Palestine Action Group for its proposal to march to the Opera House to mark the two year anniversary on October 12 of the genocide in Gaza. The hearing will take place on October 7. The Supreme Court Judge Desmond Fagan, who set the hearing date, affirmed that Gazans are being subjected to genocide.
The estimated death toll of Palestinians could be over 200,000 or 10% of the population. This figure comes from former Israeli army commander Herzi Halevi, who led the Israeli Defense Forces war for its first 17 months. His figure corresponds to those of the Gaza health minister, which Israel rejects as “propaganda”. Leaked Israeli military intelligence data on casualties until May suggested that more than 80% of the dead were civilians.
Protestors also converged on war minister Richard Marles’ office in Djilang/Geelong on October 3, to demand he pressure Israel to release the Sumud Flotilla hostages and cut ties with Israel.
New polling conducted by YouGov for the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) shows Australians overwhelmingly agree a genocide is underway in Gaza and want the government to do more to stop it.
A clear majority, 69%, agreed that Israel should stop its attack on Gaza, while 56% agreed that Israel is deliberately using starvation as a weapon of war in the Gaza Strip.
A snap action in Boorlooo/Perth on the same day to support the Sumud Flotilla crew drew hundreds of people.
About 200 people attended a protest on October 4, in Eltham, north east of Naarm/Melbourne. The event was jointly organised by Menzies for Palestine and Nilumbik for Palestine, and supported by Whitehorse for Palestine.
Speakers were Dr Bushra Othman, Palestinian-Australian general surgeon, who has been to Gaza on three missions, Jiselle Hanna, Secretary of the Communications & Public Sector Union, Samanthi Gunawardana, a senior lecturer in politics at Monash University and Stephen Clendinnen, a local activist for refugees and Palestine.
On October 6, thousands gathered at the State Library in Naarm for the weekly Palestine rally. The protest marched to the Future Fund office on Collins Street, where they occupied the intersection and demanded that Future Fund divests from Elbit Systems.
