Terrorist group Hezbollah praises Australian pro-Palestinian rallies against ‘Israeli aggression’
Written by admin on October 7, 2024
Islamist terrorist organisation Hezbollah has praised Australia’s October 7 anniversary protests after thousands of supporters took to the streets on Sunday.
The militant group shared two photos from the Sydney protest on its official English-language Telegram channel, writing: “From Australia to the world: Stop the ‘Israeli’ Aggression on Lebanon.”
Jewish groups have widely condemned the demonstrations, where despite warnings from police and politicians to not brandish the Hezbollah flag, protesters in Sydney and Melbourne waved flags that bore a similar colour scheme and imagery to the terrorist group.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Alex Ryvchin said the flag bearers should be investigated for the possible infringement of counter-terrorism laws.
“The laws are drafted in a way that it precludes the public support for terrorism. It’s never quite been tested what that really means,” he told media on Monday.
“Whether these variations would (be in breach) is questionable, but I think certainly, at least from a counter-terrorism and a security point of view, these people need to be closely examined.”
However, NSW Police said it had received legal advice that the act would not constitute a criminal offence.
Mr Ryvchin said that while the peak body would never oppose the right of Australians to assemble and protest, pro-Palestine groups should have avoided the anniversary of the October 7 attacks and acknowledged the date as a “day of mourning and commemoration” for the Jewish community.
“We knew that this was an idle request on our part. They would never hear that. They would never listen,” he said.
“As I said, when you’re dealing with fanatics, the only form of protest they understand to provoke divide, to inflame.”
On the weekend, about 10,000 protesters attended the Sydney march, where a 56-year-old man was arrested for allegedly displaying a swastika symbol.
He has since been charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public without a reasonable excuse, which carries a maximum penalty of an $11,000 fine or 12 months’ jail if convicted.
About 7000 protesters also attended a rally in Melbourne’s CBD where police made four arrests.
The Palestine Action Group has also planned a candlelight vigil in Sydney on Monday that has been lashed by NSW Premier Chris Minns as “grossly insensitive”.
“I don’t think it is appropriate, that is my personal view,” he said on Friday.
“To hold a protest or a rally on a day when people were massacred on the other side of the world is grossly insensitive in my opinion.”
