Sydney, Australia: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the cancellation of a planned pro-palestinian rally in Sydney, scheduled for October 6 & 7, honouring one year since Hamas’s attacks on Israel. Albanese portrayed the event as “incredibly provocative” and cautioned it could cause significant despair on the anniversary of one of the most toxic days for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
In an interview with Australia’s national broadcaster, Albanese highlighted the significance of a peaceful face in a democracy but warned against anything that might seem celebratory of the tragic events. Albanese stated that, “We need to encourage social cohesion in our multicultural nation.” He also added that he would attend a vigil to monumentalise the day.
The call for cancellation pursues a move by New South Wales (NSW) Police to block the event scheduled for October 6 & 7. Police applied with the state’s Supreme Court, citing concerns about public safety.
The Palestine Action Group, which organized the vigil, criticised the request to ban the rallies as an “attack on fundamental democratic rights.” They blamed the government for trying to silence opposition to Australia’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The push to ban these rallies comes with the recent controversy over the display of Hezbollah flags during pro-Palestinian protests in Melbourne and Sydney. Australia recently banned symbols from Hezbollah and Hamas as part of legislation targeting “terrorist organizations.” NSW Police arrested a 19-year-old woman for allegedly holding a Hezbollah flag at a previous march.
TOP PICKS | Taiwan braces for Typhoon Krathon: Thousands evacuated
