On Thursday 20th March, Palestine Action Group (PAG) held an emergency rally at Town Hall after Israel broke the ceasefire and massacred over 400 people in one night.
Chair Josh Lees began with chants calling out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and US President Donald Trump. Lees also chanted demands for Israel out of the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
Lees acknowledged that the protest was occurring on stolen and unceded Aboriginal land through genocide and invasion by the same government which supports Israel’s genocide. He described Tuesday’s bombing as “one of the worst massacres in the 16 months of genocide”, additionally preceded by a weeks-long blockade on the Gaza strip.
Lees explained that Israel did not intend to honour phase two or three of the ceasefire deal, and that the White House meeting between Netanyahu and Trump fantasised about a Palestine without Palestinians.
“This is what Israel has been doing to the Palestinians since 1948… spelled out by Israeli leader after Israeli leader for decades [and] Zionist leaders before,” Lees said.
Lees denounced the complicity of world leaders who provide cover for Israel and send shipments of weapons and bombs.
He spoke to the University of Sydney (USyd) management’s attempt to suspend an transgender international student after accusing them of writing pro-Palestine slogans on a white board, which would then result in their deportation.
Lees also explained that PAG is launching a constitutional challenge against the anti-protest laws being passed in NSW with their first appearance in court on the 8th of April. This is in addition to the Greens and a few independents repealing them in parliament.
Lees also criticised the law which would see police issue move-on orders for anyone protesting near a place of worship, and face arrest and criminal charges. He said that “no place in Sydney has no place of worship” including Town Hall, where St Andrew’s Cathedral is situated.
Lees reiterated the broad coalition of climate, LGBTQI+ activists, and union movements’ support, saying that “if we can’t defeat them in the court or parliament, we will in the streets” and that “we will defy if we have no choice.”
Greens Senator and Deputy Leader Mehreen Faruqi greeted the crowd with Ramadan Mubarak and spoke to protesting last Ramadan when Labor had failed to condemn Israel and frozen UNRWA funding. Faruqi added that this year, Albanese and Wong “could not even bring themselves to denounce Trump’s plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza.”
She continued, “I thought surely there would be a red line for Labor, where they would wake up from their morality stupor… Palestinians had a few weeks of respite and I’m sure Labor patted themselves on the back.”
With reference to Albanese and Wong’s statements dabbling in “both-sideism”, Faruqi said, “I know I’m not supposed to swear when I’m fasting but I know Allah will forgive me — what the actual fuck.”
She also identified Islamophobia as rife in the community, given the recent threats of a Christchurch-like attack towards two mosques.
Faruqi concluded by saying that Labor and Liberal only understand the language of votes, reminding voters that “these two parties will never see us as equals unless they are forced to, and we will force them too”.
Students for Palestine organiser and USyd Education Officer Jasmine Al-Rawi began by asking, “how many videos of dead children have to be shared around… how many more protests do we have to have to make our government listen?”
As Israel continues to raid the West Bank, arrest and torture Palestinian prisoners, and continue the genocide, Al-Rawi reiterated that Israel is able to act with full impunity. She noted that “Israel’s bombing is accompanied by a repression of activists in the West”, speaking to Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia University who “has been made an example of in the US”, as his arrest and possible deportation are due to “simply opposing US policy”.
Al-Rawi continued, “What we want is justice for Palestinians…they deserve to rebuild their homes in Gaza, the West Bank and across Palestine.”
Ahmad Abadla, a Palestinian from Gaza and activist at Palestine Justice Movement explained that the “Zionist regime never had any interest in ceasing fire” and it “does not attempt to hide its lust for more Palestinian blood and land.” He continued by saying that Zionist ideology, “which our government and universities say should be protected from criticism” is “inspired by Nazism and Fascism”.
Abadla called out Albanese for saying Australia shares common values with Israel, arguing that the similarity lies in the “racism, Fascism and Zionism”, and that this is especially appalling coming from “someone who once rallied for Palestine”.
“These so-called politicians don’t even flinch when they see children massacred at the hands of their peers… Palestinians are not only being killed and genocided in Gaza but the truth has been killed there, here and everywhere,” Abadla concluded.
NSW police and riot squad were present, lining up between the protestors and the light rail platform. Police attempted to move the crowd to stand in the public square but due to a large turnout, the crowd spilled across George St.
The Adhan was also called and dates were offered to protestors breaking fast.
At the conclusion of speeches, Lees declared Palestine Action Group’s intent to return to more frequent protests, for which the crowd indicated its support. Lees said the next protest will not be on Sunday 30 March — which also marks Palestine Land Day — so as to not clash with Eid al-Fitr.
The next protest will be held on Saturday 29 March at Hyde Park, in addition to the Stop War on Palestine march from Sydenham Station to Albanese’s Marrickville office in Marrickville.
