As Israel violates the ceasefire agreement by preventing much needed aid and supplies from entering Gaza, protesters took to the streets in Gadigal Country/Sydney on March 2.
Israel has threatened Hamas with more “consequences” if it does not agree to extend phase one of the ceasefire agreement for six weeks during Ramadan and up to Passover, until April 20.
Phase two, which included more prisoner exchanges and talks on a permanent ceasefire, was scheduled to begin on March 2.
Al Jazeera reported that prices of goods doubled on March 2 as word of the closure spread and people raced to stock up.
Israel says it will continue to block the entry of aid until Hamas agrees to US envoy Steve Witkoff’s plan to continue phase one and the talks.
Stephen Zunes, the director of Middle Eastern studies at the University of San Francisco, told Al Jareeza that the US’ pro-Israel move is “typical”.
“Hamas and Israel will agree to something. Then Israel will try to revise it in its favour. Then the US will put forward a new proposal that is in Israel’s favour and then the US will blame Hamas for not accepting that proposal.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also under pressure to proceed with the second phase, as agreed. Hundreds protested outside government ministers’ homes on March 2 demanding he not sabotage the plan for a permanent ceasefire agreement.
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Peter Boyle reports from Gadigal Country that the March 2 protest was the first of the now four-weekly mass protests, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, after 15 months of weekly marches.
Speakers condemned United States President Donald Trump’s plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza, as well as the growing censorship and persecution of Palestine solidarity across Australia by trying to falsely equate criticism of Israel’s actions with antisemitism.
Rally goers chanted: “Palestine is not for sale! Donald Trump, go to jail!”
Peter Slezak, an associate professor whose parents were Holocaust survivors, told the rally that even though the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem described Israel as an “ethno-supremacist apartheid regime”, we can now get into trouble for saying this because the supporters of genocide have weaponised “anti-Semitism” to stop people from speaking the truth.
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Slezak said this blatant censorship of the truth is happening, even in universities, which “should safe place for ideas you don’t agree with or like. That’s what universities should be about.”
A contingent at the Unions WA-organised International Women’s Day in Boorloo/Perth on March 1 highlighted that global solidarity is needed now more than ever if Palestine is ever to be free and the war criminals brought to justice.
“Apartheid was wrong in South Africa and wrong for Palestine. We need union executives to listen to their members and support a BDS campaign,” Unionists for Palestine WA said.
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