Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, has condemned a planned pro-Palestine rally in Sydney marking the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and sparked the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. The Stand for Palestine Australia group plans to hold a “Glory to Our Martyrs” event on Tuesday evening in Bankstown, prompting backlash from NSW Premier Chris Minns, who called the timing “shockingly insensitive.”
Minns said that while concern for Palestinian civilians is understandable, staging the event on the anniversary of the Hamas assault appears to glorify terrorism rather than highlight humanitarian suffering. Hamas also kidnapped 251 people during the 2023 attack, with around 20 believed to remain captive in Gaza.
Palestinian activist and lawyer Ramia Abdo Sultan, who is scheduled to speak at the event, said in a video message that Palestinians have been silenced and denied the right to grieve. “Our prime minister has disregarded the thousands of Palestinians killed over the past two years,” she said.
Since the war began, Israel’s military operations have reportedly killed over 67,000 Palestinians, leaving most of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents homeless and starving. Meanwhile, Australia has seen a surge in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, including vandalism of homes, schools, and religious sites.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced any October 7 demonstrations, saying they would undermine support for the Palestinian cause. His government, along with Canada and Britain, recently recognized the State of Palestine in a push for a two-state solution.
In Melbourne, authorities condemned graffiti and billboard messages glorifying Hamas, calling them “abhorrent” acts of terrorist propaganda.
Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters condemned violent acts against private homes after his residence was attacked with a crowbar. Peters reaffirmed that New Zealand would not yet recognize Palestine, despite mounting political pressure.