Several days before Israel鈥檚 ground invasion of Rafah, Gaza, tens of thousands of people took to streets across Australia for the 17th consecutive week of protests聽to demand the Labor government join the majority of the world in condemning Israel and breaking ties.
Free Palestine Geelong spokesperson and social worker Noor Al-Assafi, of Lebanese Iraqi descent, told a rally in Djilang/Geelong on February 10 that 鈥渆veryone should come together to stop Israel鈥檚 ethnic cleansing鈥.
She mentioned a report published by Save the Children nearly two years ago that said Palestinian children鈥檚 mental health was already at a 鈥渂reaking point鈥: 80% of children in Palestine report feeling a 鈥減erpetual state of fear, worry, sadness and grief鈥.
Al-Assafi聽said three quarters were bed wetting out of fear, and many were exhibiting PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder] years go.
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鈥淧TSD may not be the right term to use any more for the children of Palestine,鈥 Al-Assafi said, because there is no 鈥減ost鈥 to their trauma.
鈥淚t鈥檚 ongoing; they live it every day.
鈥淚t breaks my heart knowing the sheer severity of the fear these children have experienced. It鈥檚 something that should inspire us all to come together to stop this ethnic cleansing campaign run by Israel.
鈥淭his is our chance to resist; this is our chance to be on the right side of history; to tell future generations that we did not sit back quietly and allow this to happen.
鈥淣o, we show that we spoke out; we were enraged; we were fueled by anger and love and resentment and justice and聽we did not stop talking about Palestine.鈥
Also on that day, more than 1000 people protested in Walyup/Fremantle. Friends of Palestine WA called for Australia to end its support for Israel鈥檚 genocidal war, cease all trade and diplomatic ties with apartheid Israel, restore UNRWA aid funding and push for an arms embargo against Israel while it continues to wage war on Palestinians.
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Alex Salmon reports that former WA premier Carmen Lawrence, Reverend Gemma Beasley of St Paul鈥檚 Anglican Church and Razzane Al Abdeli from the Palestinian community addressed the crowd before it marched through the streets of Walyup.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters in Naarm/Melbourne protested on February 11 to demand an immediate ceasefire and for Labor to cut ties with Israel.
Jacob Andrewartha and Chloe DS report the crowd chanted 鈥淔ree Free Palestine! The people united will never be defeated鈥, 鈥淲hich illegal state is starving Palestinians? Israel!鈥 and 鈥淚srael is a terrorist聽state!鈥
Egyptian Palestinian activist Muhammad Helmy, who addressed the protest, highlighted Egypt鈥檚 role in perpetuating the genocide in Gaza.
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On the same day in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide, around 1000 people gathered outside South Australia鈥檚 Parliament House to protest the continuing genocide.
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Renfrey Clarke reports that student activists, health workers and a representative from Australian Friends of Palestine addressed the crowd before it marched through the city centre.
Thousands took the streets in Gadigal/Sydney on the same day, reports Zebedee Parkes.
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Susan Price reports from Bundjalung country that Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine held their 15th rally聽in Byron Bay on February 11.
Subhi Awad from NRFoP posted on Facebook: 鈥淭his was our 15th and most powerful event yet. We marched right through Byron in a powerful display of solidarity with the Ceasefire Now global movement ... A huge and heartfelt thank you to every single person that marched, shouted and stood with us.鈥
The previous day, protesters gathered for the 16th week in a row on the Gold Coast and聽marched聽through the streets of Southport.
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[To find out about the next protest actions for Palestine, check the 麻豆传媒 calendar.]