Protests in support of Palestine have been escalating around Australia, with sit-ins held in capital cities and a student convoy due to arrive in Canberra on Wednesday.
Hundreds are expected to take part in the convoy, organised by Students for Palestine, to protest the response of the Albanese government to the bombardment of Gaza.
Two buses have been organised and many more students are expected to make their way from Sydney to Canberra by road.
“Since parliament is sitting right now, we think it’s essential to protest at the steps of the institution which is failing to take reasonable measures in an attempt to hold Israel to account,” said organiser Amal Naser.
On Monday more than 1,000 protesters travelled from around Australia to take part in a Muslim-led interfaith convoy to Canberra, which featured speakers from various religious communities, as well as the Greens leader, Adam Bandt.
One of the people behind Monday’s convoy, Sheik Wesam Charkawi, a community organiser, academic and imam from Sydney, said he expected more protests in coming weeks.
“The Muslim community is incensed, outraged beyond belief that the government is essentially standing against humanity. And we need to exercise as much pressure on them to change as possible,” Charkawi said.
“We want them to understand that the Palestinian cause is a line in the sand. And they are not listening to their communities, to their constituents.”
Cherkawi said this wasn’t about one religion or another, but about sending a message about justice.
“There were people from all faith backgrounds, standing for justice, something the government has completely failed to do,” he said.
“We will be going to Canberra every week now, to ensure the government knows how we feel. There is massive feelings within and outside the Muslim community to keep pushing on the issue, and we won’t stop anytime soon.”
Across the country, protests continue to be held in major cities. They include a daily sit-in in front of the Victorian parliament, weekly protests at the Sydney office of the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and prayer vigils at various locations.
Naser is also one of the organisers of the pro-Palestinian rallies that are in their seventh week in Sydney and attracted around 50,000 people last Sunday.
“This is an anti-war movement, and as the violent destruction of Gaza and the displacement of its people continue, more and more Australians will be jumping in,” she said.
“I think people are slowly learning the government has failed to hold Israel to account.”
It comes as the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that 11,240 Palestinians have been killed in the invasion so far, including 4,630 children.
Israel launched its invasion of the coastal strip after a Hamas raid killed 1,200 Israelis on 7 October. More than 200 people were taken hostage and are being held by Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli government says it will not enter a ceasefire until the hostages are returned.
The Albanese government has stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, with foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, saying on Sunday “we all want to take the next steps towards a ceasefire, but it cannot be one-sided” – comments opposition leader Peter Dutton branded “reckless”.
Naser and her co-organisers believe Labor’s response doesn’t go far enough.
“They have failed to condemn Israel. It is as simple as that,” said Naser. “They have continuously maintained that the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza is their own fault, and haven’t taken any measures to stop what is widely considered a genocide.”
Other student actions are being held across Australia, including a planned student strike on Thursday in Victoria as well as sit-ins and protests at various universities in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Protests are being held against Israeli shipping company Zim at Port Botany in Sydney and at the Port of Melbourne, where there is an ongoing presence.
Paddy Gibson, an organiser at Trade Unionists for Palestine, said workers were keeping an eye out for future Zim arrivals in order to facilitate snap protests.
“Our intention is to disrupt the businesses, and we’re calling for a boycott of Zim shipping,” Gibson said.
“We found out, after a call to action, that they had rearranged their schedule to avoid our protests, but we went ahead anyway, and intend to show up anytime they want to dock. We will be targeting all future arrivals.”
Multiple unions have signed a statement in support of Palestine, including the Maritime Union of Australia Sydney Branch and the construction division of the CFMEU.
