Monday, 14 October 2024

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters in Brisbane call on federal government to demand ceasefire in Middle East.

Rally in Brisbane

The crowd heard speeches in the CBD before marching across the river.  (ABC News: Alex Papp)

In short:

The protesters are asking the federal government to help secure a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East.

Police say the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made.

Rallies were also held in Melbourne and Sydney.

Pro-Palestinian protesters calling for the federal government to demand a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East have marched through Brisbane in one of the largest protests seen in the city since the war began a year ago. 

The protesters are also asking the government to sanction Israel and to stop supplying weapons and munitions for the war.

The rally began in the CBD before protesters walked across Victoria Bridge to South Bank. 

A large crowd walking across a bridge over a river flying Palestinian flags.

The march began in the city and continued to South Bank.  (ABC News: Julius Dennis)

Justice for Palestine Magan-djin representative Omar Ashour said the large turnout "reflects that there is a big base of pro-Palestinian supporters that has been built".

"We are calling for what we can impact here in Australia," he said. 

A man wearing a chequered scarf standing in front of a flag-waving crowd.

Justice for Palestine Magan-djin representative Omar Ashour. (ABC News)

Last week Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles reiterated the government's calls for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for a ceasefire in Gaza in July as part of a joint statement with Canada and New Zealand.

Attendee Margie Pestorius said the Australian government needed to do more before war spread further. 

"It is very urgent. We need to see action from the government as soon as possible," she said.

"It is so urgent because people are still dying on the ground every day." 

March in Brisbane

The march was one of the largest in Brisbane since the war began.  (ABC News)

Hamas's terror attack on October 7 last year killed 1,200 people in Israel and saw about 250 people taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and more than 97,000 injured, according to the UN, with an estimated 1.9 million people displaced.

Nearly 1 million people in southern Lebanon have had to flee their homes as the conflict has escalated there, according to the Lebanese prime minister. 

Queensland police said the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made.

Rallies were also held in Melbourne and Sydney. 

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