TEHRAN – Over the past two years, Australia has experienced a significant increase in Palestinian parent activity as more and more frequent and vast demonstrations mobilize citizens across the country, in solidarity with the condemnation of military action in Gaza and Israel.
These rallies are now more consistent and widespread, but they seek justice from the Palestinians and are in the spotlight for Australia’s accomplices in Israel’s ongoing war with Gaza.
Early protests in Sydney and Melbourne attracted thousands of people in search of a ceasefire, raising the Palestinian flag. By early 2024, weekly marching, particularly in Melbourne, Jewish peace activists had occupied government buildings to protest the arms trade with Israel, but were common and organized.
In August this year, tens of thousands gathered at Sydney Harbour Bridge for a massive march. Based on this momentum, over 40 cities across the country quickly held demonstrations. Organizers claimed that as many as 350,000 people took part nationwide, from a strong vote of 50,000 people in Brisbane to a massive crowd in Melbourne.
Protesters called for a Gaza violence, recognition of genocide and hunger, sanctions against Israel, a halt to Australia’s arms trade and an immediate ceasefire.
Officials provided mixed reactions: some were labelled as splitting movements, others faced increasing pressure. The Australian government has sparked intense criticism for maintaining arms exports and avoiding sanctions. This appears to be seen by many as enabling Israeli violence. Organizers and Green predicted that they would increase political pressure after an unprecedented mass vote.
Australia’s historical position and co-infidelity
Australia’s long-standing support for Israel dates back to the 1947 UN vote, when Australia co-chaired the committee that approved the partition plan and established ties with Israel in 1949.
Since then, successive governments, both labor and conservative, have maintained strong bilateral relations.
The commitment has expanded to military cooperation and defense support, including Australia-provided components used in Israeli F-35 jets.
Human rights groups and protesters argue that these relationships effectively promote Israeli military action in Gaza and raise concerns about accomplice.
Impact of the Israeli lobby
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Issues Council and similar groups are perceived to be extremely influential in shaping political discourse, including sponsoring parliamentary trips to Israel.
Critics, including former foreign minister Bob Kerr, have described this as a form of foreign influence that shapes policymaking and media narratives.
Journalist John Lyons has documented pressure on media outlets to criticize Israel for disrespect or censorship. The lobby’s efforts to identify Palestinian solidarity with anti-Semitism face repulsion as a change in public sentiment.
Diplomacy, recognition, Israeli pressure
In August, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia would officially recognize the Palestinian state of the United Nations General Assembly in September, subject to Palestinian authorities to disarm, recognize Israel and exclude Hamas from governance.
This placed Australia alongside several western states moving towards the perception of the Palestinian state.
While some analysts described Canberra’s decision as “too little, too late,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded harshly, calling for Australia’s delusions and claiming that the decision would undermine Israel’s security.
The Israeli ambassador warned that recognition would enable Hamas and further strain bilateral relations. The fallout underscored Israel’s forced pressure and revealed the growing rift between Australian public opinion and the careful diplomacy of its government.
The rising voice
Labour Sen. Fatima Payman appeared prominently in mid-2024, denounced Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide and called on the government to acknowledge Palestine. She wrote articles with widely circulating opinions criticizing the government’s lack of moral courage.
After voting for the Greens across the floor to support the Palestinian state, Payman held the party members of the time, but was suspended indefinitely by the Labour Caucus.
The suspension elicited both criticism and solidarity from voters and the broader labor base. Soon she resigned completely from the party.
As the first Afghan-Australian Muslim woman in Parliament, Payman framed her decision as an act of conscience and solidarity with the oppressed.
After launching and leading a new party called the “Voice of Australia,” she vowed to continue to seek recognition for Palestinians, amplifying the voices of the community demanding justice and accountability, and since then, she ended Australia’s accomplice in the war in Gaza as a powerful public voice calling for sanctions against Israel.