About 250 people gathered at Forrest Place on June 21 to again protest against Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and its ongoing genocide in Gaza, despite a supposed ceasefire.
Although smaller than previous anti-war protests it was vibrant, with speakers addressing the impunity Israel enjoys despite its killing spree.
Hiba Farah, outgoing Friends of Palestine WA chair and Vice-President of the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network spoke of the ongoing pain of Palestinians and the silence from leaders of the Global North. Mustafa, a member of Palestinian Community of WA spoke about dangers emerging from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, particularly the conflation of antisemitism with criticism of the state of Israel.
Janet Parker from Jews for Palestine WA highlighted the limits of international law and the criminalisation of anti-genocide activists, particularly two bills which are before the WA Parliament.
One of these, the Public Order Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, which as tabled in the Legislative Council last week. It seeks to give police expanded powers to refuse a protest permit if it may “cause animosity towards, or harassment of, a person or group of persons on a range of grounds”, including race or ethno-religious origin.
After the march, Layla Seif, a student of Lebanese background and member of Students for Palestine, spoke about Israeli attacks on that country.
Music by the Paddystinians, comprised of Ozi and Johnny (Palestinian and Irish respectively) impressed the crowd with a song carrying the impassioned chorus line: “Children are not a target”.
