Pro-Palestinian activists have ascended the roof of Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra, unveiling multiple banners, one of which stated, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” This incident, occurring on Thursday, comes amid recent tensions within Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government. Notably, the government suspended a Muslim senator for voting in favor of Australia recognizing a Palestinian state, an action that went against party lines.
The protest was carried out by four individuals from the Renegade Activists group, who were clad in dark attire. They positioned themselves on the building’s roof for approximately an hour, displaying large black and white banners, including one declaring, “No peace on stolen land.” Utilizing a megaphone, one protester accused the Israeli government of committing “war crimes” in Gaza with the backing of the United States, further asserting that the Australian government was complicit in these alleged violations. The protester declared, “We will continue to unmask and resist the US imperial, hegemonic, and capitalist interests to which you are devoted,” directly addressing the Australian government.
The protester also condemned Australia’s role, stating, “Australia continues to enable and commit war crimes as lackeys to our ‘great and powerful’ friends.” During the demonstration, police and security personnel advised bystanders to avoid walking directly beneath the protest at the main entrance of the building. Additional security forces were seen on the roof, attempting to remove the activists. The protesters eventually packed up their banners and were escorted away by police around 11:30 am local time (01:30 GMT). Opposition Home Affairs spokesperson James Paterson labeled the incident a “serious breach of the Parliament’s security,” noting on social media platform X that the building had undergone costly modifications to prevent such incursions and calling for an investigation.
The backdrop to this protest is the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated dramatically on October 7 when Palestinian fighters from Hamas entered southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 250 others. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has led to the deaths of nearly 38,000 people, forced the displacement of a significant portion of the population, and caused extensive destruction in the densely populated region.
In response to these events, South Africa has filed a petition with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, a United Nations inquiry last month concluded that both Israel and Hamas had committed war crimes during the early stages of the conflict. The inquiry further asserted that Israel’s actions amounted to crimes against humanity due to the substantial civilian casualties.
Since the onset of the war, Australia has witnessed numerous pro-Palestinian protests, including weekly demonstrations in major cities and prolonged occupations of university campuses. These protests reflect a broader sentiment of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and dissatisfaction with the current government stance.
In a recent development, the Labor Party indefinitely suspended Senator Fatima Payman after she voted in favor of a parliamentary motion supporting Palestinian statehood. Payman, who supported the motion introduced by the Greens party, stated that she felt “exiled” for her defiance of government policy. Currently, Australia does not recognize Palestinian statehood. However, in May, Foreign Minister Penny Wong suggested that such recognition could occur before a formal peace process between Israel and Palestinian authorities is concluded.
The protest at the Parliament House and the subsequent suspension of Senator Payman underscore the deep divisions within Australian politics regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As debates continue, the government’s stance and actions remain under scrutiny both domestically and internationally.
