And I tell myself a moon will rise from my darkness – Mahmoud Darwish
Early on in the resistance campaign here in Brisbane, a Palestinian man drove up from the Gold Coast to attend a picket outside the electoral office of Dr Jim Chalmers, the federal treasurer. He read out the names from the Arabic of the people who had died in Gaza, murdered by the apartheid state. After some time, a small delegation was allowed by police to meet with the manager of that electoral office. A letter was submitted by one of the organizers of the rally outside the office, who then introduced our Palestinian friend only to receive a reply, something like ‘that’s what he says’ questioning his Palestinian identity.
The man had taken the trouble to collect the names of the first people killed in the genocide. He took the trouble to drive all the way up from the Gold Coast to attend the rally. And then he mournfully read out the names of the dead young and old, women and men in perfect Arabic, a beautiful language … only to be met by the ignorance of the office manager.
Or is it ignorance? My personal feeling is that both Labor and LNP members, officials, and elected parliamentarians … all the way up to prime minister Albanese know full well that what they are doing by supporting Israel is wrong.
Yesterday, one year to the day since our resistance began on the 13th of October, thousands and thousands of people came out in Brisbane Magan-djin to call yet again for a ceasefire, an end to the occupation, and an end to the genocide.
We marched yet again on the ABC for their appalling coverage over the past year of the genocide. The national broadcaster has taken every opportunity to talk up Israel. But they could not ignore the weight of numbers and people’s concern for lives lost in the genocide. Surely not. They were the first media outlet in the Western world to reveal that the IDF had invoked the Hannibal doctrine on 7 October believing the hostages were better dead than to fall into the hands of the resistance.
The spirit and energy of the people outside the ABC headquarters was palpable, creative banners and placard were on display for all to see, deaf mandarins at the ABC cloud not hear our cries. It looked as if everyone had been ordered home. The evening news was put together down south. There was a large police presence in Russell Street with the riot police held in reserve around the side. The band sang “Which side are you on?” led by Phil Monsour and Ethan Enoch, the crowd sang along. The government remains silent to the voice of the people. Remah Naji called out the chants One – We are the people, Two – We won’t be silent, Three – Stop the bombing, now, now, now!
A journalist from local radio station 4ZZZ asked me if I held any hope for the ABC to change its approach. If the evening news is any indication, I say no. All the media keep saying is “Since the Hamas attack on 7th Oct 🤬 … failing to recognise 76 years of Israeli occupation. It’s so frustrating, why are they focusing on us being “non violent”, what about Israel’s violence?
No mention of the partnership of the Australian government in the arms deals systematically detailed by Antony Lowenstein in The Palestine Laboratory:How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World, the wilful expansion of Israeli settlements, the wholesale bombing of Beirut by Israel in its invasion of Lebanon. No mention of the arm deals being done as the Foreign Minister calls for a ceasefire in the UN, something they know is not on the agenda of her puppet masters, the Israelis, or the Americans.
Australia must break all ties with United States and Israel. We must end the alliance with the United States and close bases like Pine Gap. For the genocide to stop as it did in Vietnam, we must seek the defeat of the United States in the American war on the Palestinian people. Nobody has noticed but the US has just lost a war against the houthis. The Suez Canal is closed.
The US-led military effort to defend against attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by Yemen’s Houthi militia, and to deter future attacks of this nature, is floundering. Neither objective has been accomplished — merchant ships continue to be attacked, and there is no sign that the military strikes by the US and the UK have given the Houthis pause. – reformed supporter of Israel, Scott Ritter
Ian Curr, 14 October 2024
All Out for Palestine Rally and March to take place in Brisbane CBD
A 10-year-old boy and Greens politicians are among those who addressed the 5000-strong crowd at a pro-Palestine rally in Brisbane on Sunday.
Activists are calling on the Australian Government to demand a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East at the All Out For Palestine Rally and March.
The event, described as one of the biggest pro-Palestine rallies in Brisbane, started at the Queens Gardens at 1pm, with demonstrators later marching to the front of the ABC Headquarters at South Bank.
Hosted by Justice for Palestine Magan-djin, the event was held in response to the conflict in the Middle East.
Raza, 10, took to the Brisbane stage to talk about the horror of seeing fellow children getting killed in Palestine.
“More children are dying every day because medical supplies are being blocked,” he said.
“Kids are being starved with no food and water being allowed through.
“Their future has been stolen, their schools are gone.
“This is inhumane, this is a greater violation of humanity.
“What would you do if it was your own son or daughter? Would you just stay silent and keep watching?”
Greens candidate for Moreton Remah Naji earlier told the crowd that over the past year the standards of human decency has been lowered.
“Over the past 12 months, we sit together in our thousands, we’ve occupied weapons companies, we occupied complicit MPs offices,” she said.
“I don’t have to look inside my tired self in search of words to help you understand that killing children is wrong.
“I don’t need to tell you about the devastating death toll, about the destroyed hospitals, schools and universities, the tide of journalists, medics and aids workers, the unforgiving eyes of Palestinian children, or the wiping out of entire family bloodlines from the records of civil registry.
“The standards of human decency have been lowered, this past year has revealed so much.”
Ms Naji also acknowledged the demonstrators who hoisted the Palestinian flag on a crane next to parliament.
According to Ms Naji, Sunday’s rally was one of the biggest rallies held in the city over the past 12 months.
Former Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan agreed it was one of the larger turnouts he had seen at a rally.
“I came because I’m disgusted that the Australian Government is continuing to support Israeli’s genocidal invasion of Palestine and now Lebanon. I think it’s reprehensible that the Australian Government is providing military and diplomatic support to Israel,” Mr Sriranganathan said.
“There are many conflicts around the world, but I think because Australia treats Israel as a military ally, it’s particularly important to stand up for Palestine.
“It’s a long time since I’ve seen this many people at a Palestine rally.
“The rallies have been happening on a regular basis for a year now, but the fact that so many people have showed up for this one tells us how many people really care about it.”
Mr Sriranganathan supported the call for a permanent ceasefire and sanctions against Israel.
“I think everyone here, I would expect, would agree that we need strong sanctions against this military invasion,” he said.
“The harm and the suffering that Israel is causing is just shocking.
“I think people, I think more and more people, are recognising just how brutal the Israeli regime is what they forget is that Australia is directly supporting Israel.
“Australia’s hands are not clean in this.”
In calling for the Australian Government to sanction Israel, Member for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather said it was crucial to build a politics of hope over the coming months and years.
“Over the next few months and years, it is incumbent upon us to be serious about trying to build a politics of hope that ultimately can win, and that means putting aside our petty differences,” Mr Chandler-Mather said.
Iwan Jones | The Courier-Mail
October 13, 2024 5:19 pm
Resistance to US & Israeli terrorism obliges civil society world wide to act. Most “civilised” western governmets are not just wilfully blind to the egregious crimes of this duo, but actively suppress truth in reporting and give diplomatic, political and material support (weapons transfer, intelligence and base hosting e.g. Pine Gap, Menwith Hill). We must all fully engage in the spectrum of resistance!