Protests oppose Australia, US support for Israelā€™s genocide in Gaza, LebanonĀ 

October 15, 2024
Issue 
Thousands march to stop Israelā€™s genocide, as it enters its second year. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

As Israel, backed by the United States, continues to ignore every international law on ā€œwarā€ ā€” even on the Lebanon/Israel border ā€” protests demanding Israel be sanctioned and for a permanent ceasefire continue across the world.

More than , including 127 children, with at least 10,524 people injured, according to Al Jazeera. More than a million have been displaced from their homes.

Wafa news agency reported on October 14 that Israel bombed tents housing displaced Palestinians inside the grounds of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza: 22 people were confirmed dead. At least 300 people have been killed in Israelā€™s new military siege of northern Gaza, and tens of thousands are trapped by the ground invasion and drone strikes.

Democratic Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris has doubled down on support for Israelā€™s ā€œright to defend itselfā€. While claiming she and US President Joe Biden support a ceasefire, the US continues to provide essential political and military support, without which .

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin endorsed Israelā€™s ground invasion of Lebanon in early October and has committed troops to operate a US-provided for Israel to use in its surface-to-air missile systems to attack Iran. Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said the THAAD deployment ā€œunderscores the United Statesā€™ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israelā€.

Nearly 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries are stationed in Lebanon, alongside about 800 civilian staff. They patrol the area between the Litani River and the UN-recognised boundary between Lebanon and Israel known as the ā€œBlue Lineā€.

Lebanese environment minister told the ABC on September 30 that world leaders are ā€œnot acting as they should be to stop the warā€.

brisbane_alex_01.jpg

The Magan-djin/Brisbane rally on October 13 marked 12 months of Israel's intensified genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Thousands in Magan-djin/Brisbane on October 13, marking 12 months of Israelā€™s genocide in Gaza, reports Alex Bainbridge.

Rally chairperson Remah Naji opened the protest saying that the past year has ā€œrevealed so much; itā€™s exposed the complicity of the ruling class and the mainstream mediaā€.

She said that while the year has been marked by ā€œbetrayal and shameā€ by those who are silent or complicit in the genocide, it has also been a year of ā€œsolidarity, resistance and hopeā€.

brisbane_alex_07.jpg

Magan-djin/Brisbane. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Twenty people representing a wide range of organisations and communities gave two-minute speeches. Wangerriburra and Birri Gubba activist Sam Watson paid tribute to the thousands of people who have rallied time and again, building hope and solidarity.

Mira from Doykiet Magan-djin spoke on behalf of the ā€œmany anti-Zionist Jews in so-called Australia and around the world who stand in solidarity with Palestineā€.

ā€œOver the past year, we've been horrified and disgusted as Israel has bombed hospitals, schools and refugee camps and has claimed to be doing this in our name.ā€

Protesters , marching to the ABCĀ in Southbank to protest its complicity in the genocide.

Two days earlier, more than 60 people participated in a near the Royal Brisbane and Womenā€™s Hospital. Participants signed a large banner, reading ā€œFree Gaza Medicsā€, which was carried in the October 13 rally.

brisbane_vigil_01_alex.jpg

Vigil for healthcare workers in Gaza in Magan-djin/Brisbane on October 11. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Justice for Palestine Magan-djin is organising another rally on October 25 and has plans for a big rally on November 29, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Other ways people have been shown solidarity with Palestine include the Big Ride for Palestine, which featured two events over October 12ā€“13, with a ride coming up on October 20.Ā 

An exhibition, which opened on October 10, showing more than 150 photos from 16 photographers documenting the past year, was organised by Justice for Palestine Magan-djin and Magandjin Creatives for Palestine.

perth_01_alex_salmon.jpg

Boorloo/Perth. Photo: Alex Salmon

Alex Salmon reports that hundreds protested in Boorloo/Perth on October 12 to mark 12 months of Israelā€™s genocide.Ā The Friends of Palestine WA-organisedĀ protest heard from various speakers, including Janet Parker from Jews for Palestine, who condemned Laborā€™s continued Islamophobia and hypocrisy.

Parker criticised politicians and the corporate mediaā€™sĀ attacks on protesters calling for peace and justice for Palestinians and Lebanese people.

geelong_01_matt_hrkac.jpg

Protesters in Djilang/Geelong on October 12 called on defence minister Richard Marles to stop supporting Israel. Photo: Matt Hrkac

A spirited rally in Djilang/Geelong on October 12 condemned the war on Gaza and the invasion of Lebanon, reports Sue Bull.

Protesters marched by defence minister Richard Marlesā€™ two offices, demanding he push harder for a ceasefire, rather than investing in more weapons for war.

The protest heard from a number of people, including First Nations activist Julie Saylor Briggs, climate activists Violet Coco and Brad Homewood and Mohamed El-Masri, a volunteer and representativeĀ from .

El Masri said the Muslim community have been organising to have a united voice in Australian politics and that Israelā€™s unjust war on Palestinians has helped galvanise them into action.

Several thousand people joined the protest at Hyde Park in Gadigal Country/Sydney for the 53rd consecutive week, reports Olivia Carney. Impassioned speakers condemned NSW Labor's attempts to ban the pro-Palestine protests and the recent arrests of two students at the University of Western Sydney (WSU).

sydney_olivia.jpg

Protesting for justice for Palestine and Lebanon in Gadigal Country/Sydney. Photo: Olivia

Josh Lees, from the Palestinian Action Group, said Labor seems more concerned about preventing the democratic right to protest than to take action against the Zionist regime.

NSW Greens Senator David Shoebridge called out ā€œthe war partiesā€ ā€” referring to Labor and the Coalition which, he said, are almost indistinguishable.

melb_04_jordan.jpeg

Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Jordan AK

Thousands marched for Palestine in Naarm/Melbourne on October 13, reports Jacob Andrewartha. Speakers emphasised the need to keep protesting for Palestine in light of Israelā€™s escalation into Lebanon and the one year anniversary of Israelā€™s latest genocide.

ā€œWe can't give up on Palestineā€, Lebanese activist Afaf Alfawwal said, adding, ā€œPalestinians and Lebanese people have shown continuous resilienceā€ and ā€œthere is no end to this resistanceā€.

Other speakers included Dr Samanthi J Gunawardana, an academic at Monash University; Judy Mcvey, from the Community and Public Sector Union for Palestine; and Ola Addasi, from the Palestine Community Association of Victoria.

police_carry_out_student.jpg

A still from a video of NSW Police arresting a student at the University of Western Sydney Parramatta Campus. Image: WSU4Palestine/Instagram

Students at the Western Sydney University (WSU) were arrested by NSW Police on October 9 for protesting the universityā€™s ties with Israel, reports Isaac Nellist.Ā 

Students rallied at the Parramatta campus after a freedom of information request revealed that WSU has investments in companies with links to Israel, including LeonardoSpA, Aero Vlronment, Rolls-Royce, Chevron, Siemens and many others.Ā 

WSU also has partnerships with Thales, BAE Systems, Raytheon and the University of Tel Aviv.

According to WSU4Palestine, ā€œa riot squad stormed the building ā€¦ then proceeded to brutally arrest and drag two students out of the buildingā€. It said one student ā€œhad his head slammed into the wall by four male police officers approximately five timesā€. The other was ā€œslammed onto the floorā€ and arrested.Ā 

Videos of the arrests were published on the .Ā Both students were released on bail that night and had to go to hospital.Ā Ā Days later, students and staff held a protest against police brutality and racism. It was supported by Teachers for Palestine NSW and Unionists for Palestine.Ā It was reported at the rally that a third student had been arrested that morning.

Meanwhile, at the University of Melbourne (UniMelb), police were called by management to break up a sit-in launched by UniMelb for Palestine student activists at the office of Steven Prawer, head of partnerships with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Students are demanding UniMelb cut ties with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and cancel the Jerusalem-Melbourne Joint PhD program.

UniMelb management also threatened to defund the University of Melbourne Student Union over a motion to send about $19,000 to support fundraising efforts in the village of Niā€™lin in the Occupied West Bank.

The motion also included holding a forum with representatives of the Niā€™lin Popular Committee.

adelaide_02_jordan.jpg

A protest in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide on October 12. Photo: Jordan Ellis

pro-palestine_march_wollongong_12.10.2024-5795web.jpg

Protest in Tharawal/Wollongong on October 12. Photo: Indrek Torilo

perth_03_alex_salmon.jpg

Boorloo/Perth. Photo: Alex Salmon

brisbane_alex_05.jpg

Magan-djin/Brisbane. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

melb_02_jordan.jpeg

Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Jordan AK

melb_05_jordan.jpeg

Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Jordan AK

brisbane_alex_09.jpg

Magan-djin/Brisbane. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

pro-palestine_march_wollongong_12.10.2024-8469web.jpg

Tharawal/Wollongong. Photo: Indrek Torilo

sydney_03_olivia.jpeg

Gadigal Country/Sydney. Photo: Olivia

You need Ā鶹“«Ć½, and we need you!

Ā鶹“«Ć½ is funded by contributions from readers and supporters. Help us reach our funding target.

Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options.

Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available.

You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter. Thank you.