Pro-Palestine protesters made a bold statement by climbing onto the roof of Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra and unveiling banners reading, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “No peace on stolen land.” The demonstration came after divisions within Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government, which suspended a Muslim Senator for voting in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state.
The four protesters from the Renegade Activists group accused the Israeli government of war crimes in Gaza with US support, and the Australian government of complicity. Police and security were present during the protest and eventually removed the group from the roof. Opposition Home Affairs spokesperson James Paterson called the incident a serious breach of security that requires investigation.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in a high number of casualties and displacement, with South Africa lodging a petition at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians. A UN inquiry found both Israel and Hamas guilty of war crimes. Pro-Palestine protests have been ongoing in Australia, including the suspension of Senator Fatima Payman for supporting a motion backing Palestinian statehood.
Australia currently does not recognize Palestinian statehood, but discussions about the possibility have been ongoing. The protest at Parliament House highlights the ongoing support for Palestine within Australia despite government policies.
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