The Gaza health ministry says more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 175,000 injured during Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza. Across Australia, demonstrators called for an end to the country’s arms trade with Israel. The United Nations estimates that 1.9 million people have been displaced.
Rallies for the Global Day for Gaza took place in Australian capital cities and regional locations. Demonstrators called for “true peace in Gaza” and the West Bank. They marked lives lost during three years of Israel’s retaliatory campaign, launched after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
The Arms Trade Demand
In Newcastle, Niko Leka of Palestine Action Group Muloobinba urged the Australian government to follow international law and end arms trade and other ties with Israel. “No more arms trade with Israel, no more investment, stopping our relationships with their universities until they start obeying international law,” he said.
Leka said he and other Novocastrians had protested the war for years. “Showing up here is another intervention, a peaceful intervention,” Dr Leka said. About 100 people attended the event at Civic Park in Newcastle, New South Wales.
The demand to end arms trade also featured in the wider call at rallies across Australia. Demonstrators sought government action and changes to Australia’s relationships with Israel. Leka named investment and relationships with Israeli universities alongside arms trade in his appeal.
Who Bears the Cost
At Civic Park, Hunter Valley woman Lynn Benn, of environmental group the Knitting Nannas, said people had gathered because they were angry about the situation in Gaza. She pointed to restrictions on food and critical medical supplies, as well as thousands of children.
“Food supplies are restricted, critical medical supplies are restricted, and there are thousands and thousands of children in there,” Benn said. “This has been going on for three years, which is horrendous. Standing back and letting this happen is appalling, and that’s why we’re here.” She said she wanted “true peace” in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Gaza health ministry’s reported death and injury figures describe the human cost demonstrators cited as they pressed for an end to the arms trade. The United Nations estimates that 1.9 million people have been displaced, another measure of the impact reported at the protests.
Rallies Across Australia
In Hobart, hundreds marched along the waterfront, waving Palestinian flags, carrying placards and chanting “the West Bank will be free.” People began gathering at about 11am, then went to the Tasmanian Parliament.
Speakers at the parliament included Nala Mansell of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Feras Shaheen of the Tasmanian Palestine Advocacy Network. Shaheen urged protesters to step up their advocacy and said new measures were needed to end the war in Gaza. “What else can you do in your spaces... there is still a lot to do,” he said.
The rallies paired public demonstrations with demands directed at the Australian government: end arms trade with Israel, stop investment and suspend university relationships until Israel obeys international law, as Leka put it. Organizers and participants called their actions peaceful interventions and pressed for “true peace” in Gaza and the West Bank.