Chants of 鈥淔ree Free Palestine鈥 and 鈥淔rom the River to the Sea鈥 were heard around Sydney Town Hall聽on August 13, where more than 100 protesters stood in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.聽The rally was organised by the Palestine Action Group.
The rally condemned Israel鈥檚 latest attack on Gaza and its killing of at least 46 people, including 16 children. It also highlighted the continuing oppression of Palestinians, who have endured more than 70 years of brutal occupation by the apartheid Israeli regime.
Western imperialist countries, like the United States and Australia, support Israel聽despite its聽atrocities.
A spokesperson from the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, described the situation as a 鈥渂attle between neck and sword鈥.
Jasmine, from Students for Palestine, said Gaza has become an 鈥渙pen air prison鈥.聽Israeli forces have blocked medical supplies, food and fuel from entering Palestine.
Fahad Ali, who co-organised the boycott of the Sydney Festival after it accepted sponsorship from the Israeli Embassy, read out the names of the 16 children killed by Israel鈥檚 latest attack, asking:聽鈥淲hat greater crime can there be than the murder of innocents?鈥
However, Ali said there is hope because the 鈥減ro-Israel consensus is beginning to collapse鈥, despite millions spent on PR and whitewashing.
New South Wales police attempted to block the rally from marching, but protesters managed a short march on聽the footpath around Town Hall.
Video:聽PROTEST: Sydney stands with Palestine.聽.