Despite United States President Donald Trump’s declaration that the “” in Gaza, Israel continued to launch strikes after the ceasefire was set to come into effect on October 11.
As Trump heads to the Middle East to discuss the implementation of his neo-colonial plan to hand control of Gaza to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, 28-year-old Palestinian journalist was killed, allegedly by an Israeli militia group.
Palestinians in Gaza are celebrating an end to two years of constant bombing, starvation and genocide, in which at least 67,806 people — though — have been killed, hundreds of thousands wounded and more than 1 million displaced.
But there is concern about an uncertain future under Trump’s 20-point plan.
As bulldozers began clearing rubble in Gaza city and tens of thousands of Palestinians , a nationwide march for Gaza took place across Australia on October 12, demanding self-determination and justice for Palestine, and sanctions on the genocidal state of Israel.
More than 10,000 people joined the march in Gadigal Country/Sydney on October 12 to mark two years of genocide.
While the New South Wales Court of Appeal blocked Palestine Action Group Sydney’s (PAG) initial plan to march to the Sydney Opera House, the march instead went down George Street toward Belmore Park.
included Indigenous student activist Ethan Floyd, NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong and Palestinian activist Rula Khalafawi.
Floyd said the struggle for Palestine is not over. “It will not end with just a ceasefire, it will not end until the blockade is lifted, until every Palestinian refugee is able to return and until the land and its people are entirely free from the river to the sea.”
Leong condemned NSW Premier Chris Minns for his ongoing attempts to stop Palestine solidarity protests.
Rally emcee Josh Lees said that PAG would continue to mobilise for a free Palestine. “We don’t trust the genocidal bastards who have come up with this peace plan.”
Three of the seven Australian participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla addressed the rally. The flotilla included about 500 activists from 46 different countries attempting to sail to Gaza to break Israel’s blockade and deliver desperately needed aid.
The flotilla was intercepted by Israel and participants were kidnapped and imprisoned by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Flotilla participant Abubakir Mohammad Rafiq was received with roaring applause. He said the flotilla was doing “what governments should have done, break the siege of Gaza”.
“When I first arrived in prison, I was thrown into a 4x6 metre cage with 83 other men,” he said.
From his cell he could see Palestinian prisoners blindfolded with their hands and feet chained together. “When I was released from prison I was so happy, but I thought ‘I have been freed but what about those Palestinians that I saw’ … What about the 10,000 Palestinian hostages?
“Innocent mothers, fathers, children who have been stripped of their humanity. Our government is complicit in every one of these acts.”
Flotilla participant Surya McEwan also spoke, nursing an arm in a sling that was dislocated by IDF soldiers. He said flotilla participants were abused and mistreated in the IDF prisons, but that they got off lightly compared to Palestinian prisoners. “We are talking about a place where Palestinian prisoners are routinely tortured to death.”
Juliet Lamont, another flotilla participant, said Labor must sanction Israel. She said the flotilla was only 20 nautical miles away from Gaza, “we could see the land”. She said plans for another flotilla were already being made.
“In our cells at night time we could hear the crying of Palestinian children, crying for their mothers.”
Alex Bainbridge reports that thousands rallied in Magan-djin/Brisbane on October 12 as part of a national day of action marking the second anniversary of the beginning of Israel's genocide against the people of Gaza.
The anniversary also marked two years of resistance to the genocide.
More than 1000 people marched through Cavenbah/Byron Bay on October 11 demanding immediate sanctions be placed on Israel, reports Nick Fredman.
Speakers included Bunjalung activist Ella Noah Bancroft, Global Sumud Flotilla participant and local activist Surya McEwan, Greens Byron Shire councillor Michelle Lowe and Subhi Awad from rally organisers Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine
About 1000 people marched in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide demanding sanctions on Israel and the liberation of Palestine, reports Markela Panegyres.
Speakers said that the ceasefire may give some relief if it holds, but we can’t stop mobilising until Palestine is free and the Israeli Apartheid state is dismantled.
They also called for sanctions, and affirmed that Palestinians need freedom on their own land.
The rally heard from Australian Friends of Palestine Association chair Christa Christaki, Greens senator Barbara Pocock, Ahmed Ahmed Azhar from SA Socialists who spoke against the draconian anti-protest laws, Leila Clendon from SA Socialists and the Australian Education Union and SA Maritime Union of Australia member Campbell Duignan, who spoke in support of MUA member and Sumud Flotilla activist Hamish Paterson.
The event concluded on an uplifting note with a song led by Peter Combe.
More than 5000 people rallied in Forrest Place, Boorloo/Perth on October 12, part of the national day of action marking 2 years of genocide, reports Blair Vidakovich.
Speakers included Deputy Greens Leader Mehreen Faruqui and Dr Mohammed Mustafa.
The rally was attended by a variety of groups, including Students for Palestine, Perth Animal Workers for Palestine, Jews for Palestine, Unionists for Palestine, Christians for Palestine, Mums for Palestine, Greens for Palestine, Socialist Alliance and many more.
Activists in Djilang/Geelong held a rally, march and “die-in” outside defence minister Richard Marles office on October 12, reports Sarah Hathway.
A community rally in Katoomba, Blue Mountains on October 11 organised by Mountains for Palestine drew about 50 people as part of the nationwide marches.
The rally was chaired by Aaisha Slee and speakers included UNSW Professor, academic and anti-Zionist activist Peter Slezak and Port Botany ZIM picket arrestee Luciana Carusi.
About 1000 people rallied in nipaluna/Hobart on October 12 for the national day of action marking two years of genocide. The rally was organised by Tasmanian Palestine Advocacy Network.
A silent vigil and walk on the jetty at Coffs Harbour on October 12 was attended by over 200 people to mourn two years of genocide in Gaza., reports Brian Mahony.
Speakers called on the government to “sanction Israel now”.
About 8000 people joined the march for Gaza in Naarm/Melbourne, reports Jordan AK.
About 100 protesters rallied outside Labor Senator Nita Green’s office in Gimuy/Cairns to demand genuine peace and an end to Israel’s genoicde, reports David Anthony.
They called for an end to Australia’s involvement in the arms trade and sending weapons to Israel.
Protesters in Tharawal/Wollongong marched “from the water, to the water”, starting at Puckeys Lagoon and ending at Belmore Basin.
The rally was organised by Wollongong Friends of Palestine as part of the October 12 national day of action.
A “flotilla” of boats blocked the entrance to the Pine Gap Spy Base near Mparntwe/Alice Springs on the morning of October 9.
Organisers said the blockade has stopped 800 Australia and United States contractors from entering the base and “participating in the US/Israeli genocide of Palestinians“.
Two activists have locked on to a concrete barrel, blocking the road beside two boats and a group of local residents.
Jorgen Doyle, one of the activists involved, said: “We’re here because Pine Gap is sharing surveillance data, including geo-location information from mobile phones with the genocidal Israeli regime, who are targeting journalists and their families, children, teachers, doctors, patients and the entire population of Palestine.”
Activists are calling for immediate sanctions on Israel, the attorney general prosecute Pine Gap's involvement in the genocide and close Pine Gap and return the stolen lands to Arrernte people.
A rally was held outside the Federal Court of Australia in Gadigal Country/Sydney in support of Dr Nick Reimer and Professor John Keane, academics at the University of Sydney who are facing legal action over trumped-up charges of antisemitism.
The case is the first to explicity test whether Zionism should count as a protected identity under the law, which would criminalise criticism of Israel.
