Labor votes against Palestinian state while protesters march against genocide

Thousands rallied around the country on June 1–2 in the latest weekend of continuous protest, almost eight months after Israel's genocide began.

The rallies came days after Labor and the Liberal-National opposition joined forces on May 29 to reject a Greens motion to recognise Palestine as a state.

Labor went to the 2022 election promising to recognise Palestine. Foreign minister Penny Wong hinted at the prospect in April and May.

But when it came to parliament, Labor dismissed the Greens move as “wedge” politics in keeping with Labor's unwavering support for Israel, notwithstanding its occasional hand wringing.

The rallies took place just after United States President Joe Biden announced a proposed peace plan on May 31. Ostensibly, it was an Israeli “offer”, with Biden calling on Hamas to “live up” to it even though it is very similar to a previous plan accepted by Hamas. Hamas immediately responded “positively”.

Israeli government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have either criticised it or avoided saying they support it.

It indicates that the protest movement around the world — especially in pro-Israel countries like Australia and the US — need to continue to force an end to the genocide.

Australian doctors, including Sanjay Adusumilli, are among the humanitarian workers giving first-hand accounts of the impact of Israel's genocide.

Adusumilli told ABC Radio on June 4 that the hospital where he was working in Gaza was one of just three “functioning hospitals” in the area. It had been transformed from a maternity hospital to one that caters for everything because “every other hospital had been destroyed”.

He said supplies of anaesthetics “came in waves” and that there was not enough pain relief while he was there.

Adusumilli said that Israel's claims there is no starvation in Gaza is “a complete and utter lie”.

Another Australian doctor, Modher Albeiruti, who had been trapped in Gaza, said that Israel was preventing aid workers and supplies getting in and out of Gaza, The Guardian reported on May 21.

Several thousands rallied in Gadigal Country/Sydney on June 2, reports Peter Boyle. 

Palestinian activist Jana Fayyad told the crowd that the divide between politicians and the people on Gaza “has never been greater”.

A poll in February showed that 83% of people supported an immediate and permanent ceasefire yet only 6% in Australia's parliament voted for this.

Palestinian activist Ahmed Abadla, who hails from Gaza, said: “In the face of the unimaginable, we have to maintain hope, perseverance and conviction. We have to stay confident and convicted in our belief that liberation is near.”

“Up, up with liberation, down, down with occupation,” people chanted.

The turnout was significantly bigger than previous weekends.

Mass protests continued on the streets of Naarm/Melbourne, reports Chloe DS.

The crowd chanted “One, we are the people, two, we wont be silenced, three, stop the bombing! NOW! NOW! NOW!” on June 2. Another popular chant was: “Our existence is our resistance”.

A group shut down the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets by dumping a truck load of rubble and body bags on the road.

The action included fake drones, bombs, the destruction of a hospital tent and multiple banner drops, while the sounds of drones and bombing filled the air.

Some large banners read: “Victoria the Genocide State”, “ALP Arms Genocide” and “Palestine Always Rising”.

The action coincided with the beginning of the Rising Festival, a music and arts festival funded by the Victorian government.

Local rallies outside Labor MPs offices continue to be organised as well.

Between 600-800 people rallied on June 1 in Magan-djin/Brisbane, in the latest fortnightly protest, organised by Justice for Palestine Magan-djin.

Will Sim from Students for Palestine spoke about the 1500-strong student general meeting (SGM) at the University of Queensland which voted overwhelmingly on May 29 for the university to divest from Israel. He described the meeting as “the biggest on-campus action for Palestine in Australian history”.

Hazara mum and primary school teacher Kaneez said child safety is the precondition for education. She told stories about the dismal lack of safety for Palestinian children in Gaza today.

Raziye, an Australian nurse who treated patients from Gaza in a Qatar-based hospital, said that “in the past eight months, Israeli forces have damaged, destroyed and eradicated 24 hospitals in Gaza”.

“Their healthcare system has been completely dismantled and 493 healthcare personnel have been killed,” she said.

The severity of the injuries of children she treated was “absolutely unimaginable” she told the crowd.

More than 500 people rallied in Boorloo/Perth on May 31, Alex Salmon reports. People at the Friends of Palestine WA-organised protest condemned Israel's bombardment of a refugee camp in Rafah, in which 45 people were killed.

Countless others were injured and babies were decapitated and burnt alive by the shrapnel. Protesters called on the Albanese government to condemn the genocide and cut all political, diplomatic and military ties with Israel.

Renfrey Clarke reports that well over 1000 people gathered outside Parliament House in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide on June 2. Speakers from Unionists for Palestine, Australian Friends of Palestine and Students for Palestine addressed the crowd before it marched through the city centre.

Around 150 people rallied in Gimuy/Cairns on June 1, reports Carine Visschers.

Speakers described the horrors of the genocide and berated Labor for its ongoing support for Israel. They also encouraged people to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign as a practical action.

Nazeem Hussein told the rally that “the lies will always be exposed and 20 years from now or five years from now, we will be able to say that Albanese and all those who stood alongside him were wrong, and we were right”.

“Let's keep organising, demonstrating, boycotting and praying until from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.”

The rally was organised by Free Palestine FNQ.

In other expressions of dissent, 1700 public sector workers launched an open letter on May 30 calling on Labor to cease all military exports to Israel, in accordance international law.

More than 200 stood with Rafah at a snap rally in nipaluna/Hobart on May 28.

On May 31, a national day of action targeted Labor MPs with occupations and protests at offices including those of Graham Perrett, Ged Kearney, Daniel Mulino, Peter Khalil, Andrew Giles, Bill Shorten and Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.

Mountains for Palestine and Community Care Kitchen organised a 200-strong Palestinian film night on May 24 in the Blue Mountains.

Residents protested outside the May 28 Gold Coast City Council meeting in support of a petition calling on the council to end ties with the Israeli coastal resort city of Netanya, reports Susan Price. More than 1000 people signed the petition.

The Jewish Council of Australia also renewed its call on federal Labor to pressure Israel to stop committing genocide, following Israel’s May 27 airstrike on Palestinians reduced to living in tents.

Some student encampments are continuing — such as at Sydney Uni and the Australian National University — while others have begun to wind down as the semester ends.

The University of Queensland encampment ended after winning a commitment from the administration to disclose financial and research partnerships with weapons manufactures. Students, however, are vowing to continue campaigning in the next semester for complete divestment.

Read more in Green Left online and check the calendar for events in your city.