The Garramilla/Darwin Islamic community organised a ceasefire rally on March 29 in the wake of Israel’s renewed bombing in Palestine.
“On Monday we will be celebrating Eid as Muslims,” said Hajrah Kamran from the Charles Darwin University Muslim Students Association.
“As our mothers are ironing our clothes for Eid, there’s probably mothers finding their kids under the rubble.”
The rally attracted cross-faith support from members of the Christian and Jewish communities.
“The killing of children in Gaza is a huge evil,” said Catholic Bishop Charles Gauci.
“We pray and hope that the Palestinian people can have their own state where they can govern their own affairs.”
“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you,” said Reverend Vicki Aitken, from the Darwin Uniting Church.
“May our actions today create a ripple effect of love and light that leads to peace in Gaza and in the Middle East.”
Independent NT MLA Justine Davis provided a statement that was read out. “As a Jewish woman, I feel compelled to express my profound sorrow over the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.
“Palestinians have the right to return to their homes, rebuild their lives and determine their own future,” Davis said.
“I’m Jewish and I’m here to denounce Israel,” said Haskell Musry from Jews Against the Occupation.
“It’s a criminal state, a racist, apartheid, genocidal state. We must insist the ALP and the ABC call it what it is: it is genocide. Why are they afraid of the word? It’s because of their participation in it. Their own shame.”
Current and aspiring NT politicians, as well as solidarity groups, attended the rally.
“Every day the world is witnessing crimes that demand not silence but action,” said Phil Scott, Independent candidate for the federal seat of Solomon.
“I join you in calling for a just and lasting peace that can only come with an end to the occupation and the recognition of Palestinian statehood.”
Luke Gosling, Labor MP for Solomon, has drawn the ire of the Muslim community for his refusal to meet with constituents and take a strong pro-Palestine stance.
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Greens MLA Kat McNamara highlighted the links between Australia’s treatment of First Nations and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
“I did a tour recently of our prisons here, for the first time, and I could see what it means to be a colony. We are imprisoning First Nations Australians in the same way that Israeli prisons are full of Palestinians.”
Suki Dorras-Walker, from Palestine Action Group Garramilla, echoed this point: “Witnessing the horror and violence that goes with dispossessing people of their land, witnessing the dehumanising rhetoric and the blindness to suffering, we should be mindful that this too happened and continues to happen here.
“We should commit ourselves to standing in solidarity with Larrakia people in their fights for justice, particularly in the face of constant attacks by this CLP Government on Aboriginal families and their communities.”
Dr Karen Edyvane, from Territorians for Palestine, was critical of the Western media, including the ABC.
“The Western media is silent; our governments are silent,” she said. “What we are hearing instead repeatedly from politicians and media are Israel’s well-honed public relations talking points and propaganda.”
Speakers emphasised the importance of hope in the face of the ongoing genocide. “We cannot be hopeless,” Kamran said. “They want to erase Palestine from the world. So the whole world became Palestine.”