At least 30 major cities and regional centres across Australia joined the global day of action for Gaza on October 11 to mark three years of genocide and Palestinian resistance.
Protesters condemned Labor’s refusal to cut ties with Israel or to stop the two-way arms trade.
About 1500 people joined the Boorloo/Perth protest, which was organised by Friends of Palestine WA, to demand an end to Australia’s complicity and to place sanctions on Israel.
Greens MLC Sophie McNeil, Palestinian-Australian Dr Lama Al Ramahi and Helen O’Sullivan, a Freedom flotilla participant addressed the rally.
About 100 people joined the Gimuy/Cairns rally, where speakers also highlighted Australia’s complicity in supplying parts for military weapons to Israel.
Around 10,000 people joined the Naarm/Melbourne protest to hear from Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Senator Lidia Thorpe; Palestinian writer and lawyer Sara Saleh; Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network Vice President Hiba Farra; Palestinian activist Nour Salman; Sarah Schwartz from Jewish Council of Australia; and Greens MP Gabrielle De Vietri. Palestinian educator and activist Noura Mansour MCed the rally.
The protest marched from the State Library to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade head office on Collins Street.
About 70 people gathered in Bathurst, on Wiradjuri Country, to fly kites and raise funds for a medical clinic in Gaza.
Mountains for Palestine organised a protest in Springwood, in the Blue Mountains.
More than 1000 people joined the rally in Tarntanya/Adelaide, reports Markela Panegyres.
Speakers included Sawsan Zadeh from Health Care Workers for Palestine; lawyer and activist Beljana Dally; Ahmed Azhar from SA Socialists; Mike Khizam, Deputy Chairperson of Adelaide Friends of Palestine Association; Greens Senator Barbara Pocock; and year 11 high school activist Sam Ats. The Palestine Choir and drumming group added a special musical element to the rally.
The rally in Nipaluna/Hobart, was organised by the Tasmanian Palestine Action Network (TPAN). Philip Bohle reports from Nipaluna/Hobart that around 350 people attended. Speakers included MC Feras Shaheen from the TPAN, Nala Mansell, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Ayda Issa Abu Daoud, from TPAN and “Potto” from Grassroots Action Network Tasmania.
The protest, which started on on Davey Street, attracted enthusiastic honks from passing motorists, and marched to the Parliamentary Lawns. Handmade placards declared: “What if it was your kid?”, “Stop the slaughter”, ‘Israel is a sick, genocidal nation” and “Zionism is Nazism”. Others deplored the deaths of Shireen Abu Akleh and more than 240 other journalists.
TPAN spokesperson Feras Shaheen said: “Three years on, Palestinians are still being killed while the institutions that claim to defend international law fail to stop it. What has been presented to the world as a ceasefire has not ended the destruction of Palestinian lives, homes and families.”
From Cavanbah/Byron Bay, Troy Tutaki reports that more than 350 people took part. Speakers included Cate Coorey, Subhi Awad, Cass Lills from Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association and Chels Hood Withey from House You. Mandy Nolan, who is standing for the Greens in 2027, MCed the protest.
Several speakers highlighted the farcical nature of the “ceasefire”, when Palestinians are still being killed. About 94% of Gaza’s population remain in urgent need of shelter and basic household assistance. Ninety-one percent of assessed households experienced moderate-to-high water insecurity, 93% of all schools need to be completely rebuilt.
Nolan criticised Australia’s sovereign wealth fund for investing in tools to murder children in Gaza. She said Australia Super Funds have $2.2 billion invested in war crimes and that Australia’s Future Fund has invested $160 million on Palantir providing AI to Israel for war-related missions.
Lills, a nurse who has been to Gaza, said its healthcare facilities are still be targeted repeatedly. She said 36 hospitals had been bombed or burned by the Israeli Defense Forces since the start of the war. The targeting of health facilities, medical personnel and patients is a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
All the speakers reinforced the need to continue to build solidarity, build stronger unions and build a stronger activist movement to ensure justice for Palestinians.
Between 5000–6000 protested in Gadigal Country/Sydney. Grace Tame, NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, and anti-Zionist Jewish journalist Yakhov Aharon were among the speakers.
The Jews Against the Occupation ‘48 also organised a vigil on October 7.
