Palestine rallies: ‘Israel and its allies hate us speaking up, so keep speaking’

August 12, 2024

Issue

Protesters march against Israeli apartheid and genocide, Magan-djin/Brisbane, August 11. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

The 44th week of consecutive protests against Israel’s genocide came one day after the . As it was housing displaced Palestinians, more than 100 people were killed.

The attack, which was one of the deadliest massacres in Gaza in recent weeks, is one of in August alone.

The rallies also came after the mobs of Israeli citizens explicitly rioted in defence of the supposed “right” of Israeli soldiers to rape Palestinian prisoners. The issue was debated in the Israeli Knesset (parliament), with members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party that “everything [including rape] is legitimate”.

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli minister “Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for the prison service, told Israeli media that it ‘shameful’ for Israel to arrest ‘our best heroes’.”

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich was among the right-wing mob that stormed a prison in defence of soldiers accused of rape. He published a video message, saying that “IDF soldiers deserve respect” and must not be treated as “criminals”.

While this episode has been widely reported in Israeli media and by progressive and alternative media, it has been largely by the establishment media in the rich world countries.

Meanwhile, Australian Labor remains complicit with Israel’s genocide. One indication is the of Japan's commemoration of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki, 79 years ago, due to Israel’s ambassador being excluded.

Another indication is the . prepared by the Australian government that whitewashes the murder by the Israeli military of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and other World Central Kitchen staff.

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Stop the genocide, Gadigal Country/Sydney, August 11. Photo: Pip Hinman

Israel was condemned as a “rapist” state at the August 11 protest for Palestine on Gadigal Country/Sydney. Footage of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) members at Sde Teiman — Israel’s Guantánamo Bay — gang raping a detainee, adds to the list of war crimes being committed by Israel.

Pressure is mounting from inside Israel to close the prison, including from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, that has petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court, on behalf of five human rights organisations.

Pip Hinman reports that speakers at the passionate thousands-strong rally included Wiradjuri Wailwan man Ethan Floyd, who said Labor must back up its words with action — including sanctioning Israel and stopping arms exports. “We are here because we refuse to accept this genocide as a norm,” he said.

“We are here because we stand in solidarity with those who are oppressed and suffering. We are here because we believe in a world where every person can live with dignity and equality.

“From Gadigal to Gaza, from Wiradjuri to the West Bank, from so-called Australia to Palestine to every corner of the globe, we will stand united in this fight for liberation.”

Long-time peace activist Denis Doherty drew the links between the genocide in Hiroshima and Nagasaki 79 years ago and Gaza today. He criticised Labor for instructing its shameful conduct in refusing to attend the Hiroshima commemoration in Japan.

Amal Naser, Palestinian and member of the Palestine Action Group, emphasised that everyone needed to continue the fight until Palestine is truly free.

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Marching for Gaza in Magan-djin/Brisbane, August 11. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

The August 11 rally in Magan-djin/Brisbane focused its message on the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign as a practical means to defeat Israel’s genocide.

Rally chairperson Phil Monsour highlighted the “significant markers” from the last nine months that the BDS campaign is adding to “the isolation of the apartheid state”.

He cited the decision by microchip manufacturer Intel to freeze construction of a $2.5 billion factory in Israel, the April 2024 decision by Samsung to shut down its Tel Aviv operations, and divestment decisions by Norwegian pension funds, among others.

“Telling also is that Israeli pension funds are now shifting their investments out of Israel and internationally offshore,” he told the crowd.

“It is hard to find hope in times like this but I believe that our international solidarity with BDS and the heroic and determined struggle of the Palestinian people will eventually lead to the end of the apartheid state.”

These economic markers indicate that this is “coming sooner rather than later”, he said.

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Omar Ashour speaking with an Auslan interpretter, Magan-djin/Brisbane, August 11. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Palestinian activist Omar Ashour said BDS is a “non-violent movement led by civil society, not Hamas or any other armed group”.

He said that the pro-Palestine movement has been “fiercely attacked by Zionists and their supporters worldwide” because they “hate it when us Palestinians have a voice, when us Palestinians speak for ourselves”.

“Israel and its allies hate it when we speak,” he said, “so keep speaking” he implored the crowd, to big cheers.

Other speakers highlighted student solidarity with Palestine, the important role trade unions can play by supporting BDS and the campaign to Shut Down Ferra.

Some 40-50 fascists attempted to disrupt the rally, but were dispersed by police before it began.

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Marching in Naarm/Melbourne, August 11. Photo: Jordan AK

Thousands also rallied in Naarm/Melbourne on the same day, waving Palestinian flags and calling for a free Palestine.

Speakers included Hend El-Kashouty, Rand Khatab, a Palestine Justice Movement organiser and BDS Youth Convenor from Gadigal Country/Sydney, Samah Sabawi, Palestinian author and playwright, and Rathy Barthlote, Refugee Women Action for Visa Equality co-founder.

Barthlote is involved in the indefinite refugee encampment outside Labor's headquarters in the Docklands.