As Israel continues its genocide on starving Palestinians in Gaza, thousands have taken to the streets over the last week of May demanding the newly elected Labor government stop sitting on its hands and sanction Israel.
Israel killed at least 32 more Palestinians waiting for food at two aid distribution centres in Gaza on June 1. Tanks fired on thousands of people waiting at a distribution site in Rafah, injuring more than 200 people.
Marwan Al-Hams, director of Gaza’s field hospitals, told the ABC: “The shots were aimed at the upper body; head, neck and chest … It seems the IDF is sending a clear message to the hungry: We will kill you from the sky with planes and missiles, or on the ground through starvation and attacks near aid distribution centres.”
The limited aid is being distributed by the controversial Israel-United States Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which the United Nations and aid groups have labelled as part of Israel’s military objective to take Gaza over.
Bassam Zaqout, of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, said the Israel-US aid distribution scheme had replaced 400 former distribution points with just four.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said aid distribution had become a “death trap”. “This humiliating system has forced thousands of hungry and desperate people to walk for tens of miles to an area that’s all but pulverized due to heavy bombardment by the Israeli Army. Aid deliveries and distribution must be at scale and safe. In Gaza, this can be done only through the United Nations including UNRWA,” he said on June 1.
“The State of Israel must lift the siege and allow the UN safe and unhindered access to bring in aid and distribute it safely. This is the only way to avert mass starvation including among 1 million children.”
Meanwhile pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to do more than criticise Israel for its “untenable” blockade of aid. Calls to sanction Israel and, in some cases, to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital are growing, including from former members of parliament, some churches and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
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More than 10,000 people marched in Gadigal Country/Sydney on June 1 with a long red banner, representing the drawing of a red line for Gaza and demanding Labor sanction Israel, reports Peter Boyle.
It was the largest rally in the city in months; people came out to show their horror at Israel using starvation as a weapon of war. Another protest has been called by Palestine Action Group for June 8, 1pm at Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park North.
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Days prior, a protest was held at Martin Place on Gadigal Country/Sydney to mark 600 days of genocide on May 29.
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The next day, protesters marched on the Vivid Sydney festival, in the CBD, to oppose its sponsorship deal with Airbnb, which holds listings in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank.
Stop War on Palestine, the rally organisers, said: “There are over 320 Airbnb listings in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, some of them in homes stolen from Palestinian people.”
A number of prominent artists and musicians have signed an open letter to Vivid, demanding it end its sponsorship deal, with some pulling out of planned performances.
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Protesters rallied outside the United States consulate in Boorloo/Perth on May 29 to mark 600 days of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and condemn Western governments’ ongoing support for it.
More than 180 Palestine solidarity activists across the country gathered in Magan-djin/Brisbane over May 30–June 1 for the Activism for Palestine conference, which was organised by Justice for Palestine Magan-djin, reports Alex Bainbridge.
Conference attendees joined a spontaneous demonstration at the popular Fortitude Valley pub, The Wickham, in solidarity with workers who declined to work at a Zionist function on May 31.
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Audiences packed the Project Contemporary Artspace in Tharawal/Wollongong for the Illawarra Health Professionals’ Unite for Gaza event on May 28, reports Indrek Torilo.
Doctors Ayman Elattar, Mohammed Mustafa and Aziz Bhimani, who have been working in hospitals in Gaza during Israel’s genocide, were joined by Sally Stevenson and Assala Sayara to share their experiences, heart-wrenching stories and valuable insights.
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Days later, on May 31, large crowds joined the Wollongong Friends of Palestine-organised rally through the Crown Street Mall.
The protest stopped at Labor MP Alison Byrnes’ office to demand the Australian government put sanctions on Israel.
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About 300 people rallied in nipaluna/Hobart on May 31 for the fortnightly rally for Palestine organised by the Tasmanian Palestine Advocacy Network, reports Ciaran Toman.
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