Pro-Palestine protesters declared they were standing on the right side of history, marching for justice and humanity, as they turned out in their thousands at rallies across Australia on Saturday.
Thousands marched through the Sydney CBD on Saturday after police green-lit the event, with rallies also held in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane as more information emerges from conflict-stricken Gaza.
Protesters at Sydney’s Town Hall chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “in our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians” as a significant police presence watched on.
“Today, we have come to tell the world that we stand on the right side of justice,” campaigner Assala Sayara told the protest to loud cheers.
“We stand on the side of humanity.”
Sydney protest organiser Fahad Ali said more Australians – including frontbench politicians Ed Husic and Anne Aly – were recognising the gravity of the situation in Gaza.
Ali said organisers had worked closely with police to make sure the event was successful.
“Last week, the premier of NSW was saying that there would never be another Palestine march in this state,” he said in a statement posted online.
“We fought against that and we won, so today we’re looking forward to a really successful, really wonderful event.”
Islamic prayers were held in the courtyard between Sydney Town Hall and St Andrews Cathedral before marchers walked noisily but peacefully, waving hundreds of Palestinian flags, from Town Hall to Belmore Park.
More than 800 police were deployed across Sydney city. Police estimated up to 15,000 people attended the rally: they reported no arrests and no injuries.
Protesters were told antisemitic slogans or chants would not be tolerated, nor would the burning of flags or setting off of flares.
Protester Vicky Tzioumis from Manly said attending was the least she could do.
“Israel is not playing by the rules. It’s shameful,” she told AAP.
Previous protests had been met with a heavy police presence after videos emerged of a small group chanting antisemitic slogans within a rally at the Sydney Opera House.
Rallies since have been relatively uneventful with organisers around the country clamping down on hateful comments to ensure the focus remains on their key message: free Palestine.
Supporting the right to peaceful protest at the Free Palestine rally in Sydney today. pic.twitter.com/Ux4b2b1UOS
— Adam Curlis (@TAFEeducation) October 21, 2023
At a rally in Hobart, protesters urged the end of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, and carried banners, reading “injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere”. A demonstration in Perth heard from speakers: “Palestinians are not disposable, they are people who deserve life: they did not ask to live under occupation.”
More pro-Palestine protests will take place in Melbourne and Adelaide on Sunday. Rallies have also been held in recent days around the world, including large demonstrations in Montreal, Athens, Barcelona and Paris.
The Australian prime minister has provided $25m to Jewish and Islamic communities affected by the conflict, and while Ali welcomed the commitment, he said the government needed to take immediate action to urge a ceasefire, and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians.
“We’re faced with a humanitarian crisis in Palestine – the scale of which we have never seen before,” he said.
“It cannot be the case that we wash our hands of responsibility, when we have played a part in creating the conditions that have led up to this.”
Hamas conducted a cross-border attack on 7 October that killed more than 1400 people in Israel and led to more than 150 being taken hostage.
On Saturday morning, two hostages from the United States, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released.
Israel retaliated to the initial attack by laying siege to the 2.3 million people living in Gaza and unleashing a bombing campaign that left more than 3500 dead, another 12,000 wounded and roughly one million displaced, according to Palestinian officials.
Civilians in Gaza have no power, water is scarce and the dwindling fuel sources used for emergency generators are running out.
More than 1650 Australians have left Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since 7 October and commercial flights are available for others who wish to return home.
The foreign affairs department is in contact with registered Australians about departure options.
But the government has previously said there are 46 Australians in Gaza whose safety remains unknown.
