Gaza: Pro-Palestine protests erupt across Australia ahead of Hamas attack anniversary

NSW Premier Chris Minns is vowing to stop a repeat of last year’s infamous Opera House demonstrations as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters are expected to swarm the streets of Australia’s major cities ahead of the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.

Mr Minns said on Sunday last year’s protests, where some participants clashed with police and chanted antisemitic slogans, were “a mistake” he had to “bear responsibility for”.

“I apologised at the time,” he told Sky News.

“We can’t allow that to happen again, and that’s part of the reason why police were so vigilant about planned protest activity this Sunday and Monday.”

Following an 11th-hour Supreme Court hearing between police and protest organisers, Palestine Action Group withdrew its application to protest on Monday, October 7, saying it would instead hold a vigil at Sydney’s Town Hall on that evening and a rally at Hyde Park on Sunday, October 6.

Mr Minns said the police move to block protests around the anniversary, which he staunchly supported, “wasn’t to restrict freedom of speech” but to avoid public displays of “hatred and racism.”

“We can’t have a situation where hundreds of people hijack a march, end up down at the Opera House and in a violent confrontation with police,” he said.

“Those images were spread on the front pages of newspapers around the world, and it gave Sydney and Australia a terrible reputation during that period. I’m determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“Now, part of that is ensuring that we’re vigilant about these protests. NSW Police are ready.”

Pro-Palestine rallies have been held across the country every Sunday since Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group that administers the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel and continue to command strong crowds.

They came under increased scrutiny after flags of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, and framed pictures of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, appeared among the crowds.

Palestine Action Group’s original plan for a protest on Monday drew intense criticism from federal and state politicians, who deemed it “grossly insensitive” to rally on a day that marks the greatest loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust.

But the group’s organisers said on Friday they “have a right to mourn” those killed by Israel’s military action against Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organisation that administers the densely populated Gaza Strip.

“It has led to 42,000 Palestinians being killed and we have a right to mourn them, and we have a right to declare that this is the anniversary of the start of this genocide,” the protest group’s Amal Nasser told reporters.

Israel’s military action in densely populated Gaza has not been ruled genocide by the International Court of Justice.

State and territory police forces pledged in a rare joint statement on Friday to enforce laws on banned symbols at any demonstrations.

“Police respect the right to peacefully protest and assemble in Australia; however, there will be no tolerance for illegal behaviour or violence on any day of the year,” the country’s police forces said in a joint statement.

“In Australia, there are offences that prohibit behaviour that incites or advocates violence or hatred based on race and religion, including the display of prohibited symbols in public under these circumstances.

“It is also a serious offence to counsel, promote, encourage, urge, instruct or praise terrorism.”

They said they would work with all “stakeholders”, including “community leaders and leaders of faith to ensure Australian laws are understood”.