Australian Protests

Brendan Stefens reports on the protests going on in Australia as a result of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

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The conflict between Israel and Palestine has reached various other parts of the globe. Many areas have voiced their opinion for either side. Some of the pro-Palestinian protests have spread all across Australia. Australian authorities were present at these rallies.

Over the weekend, Australia bore witness to sizable demonstrations in support of Palestine. In Sydney, a multitude of protesters converged on the city streets with the green light from the police, and similar rallies sprang up in other Australian cities, including Perth, Hobart, and Brisbane. The Sydney demonstrators were fervently chanting slogans like "Palestine will be free" and "we are all Palestinians," echoing their solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

The considerable police presence at the events was impossible to ignore, underscoring the significance of the gatherings and the authorities' intent to maintain order. These protests reflect the global concern and empathy for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with people from diverse backgrounds coming together to voice their support for justice and humanity.

Islamic prayers were held in the courtyard between Sydney Town Hall and St Andrews Cathedral before marchers walked noisily but peacefully, waving hundreds of Palestinian flags, from Town Hall to Belmore Park. More than 800 police officers were deployed across Sydney City. Police estimated up to 15,000 people attended the rally: they reported no arrests and no injuries. Protesters were told that antisemitic slogans or chants would not be tolerated, nor would the burning of flags or the setting off of flares. There is much to come from the protests as well as the conflict.