Australia Approves Pro-Palestinian Events on October 7 Anniversary, Sparking Outrage

Australian authorities have approved two pro-Palestinian events scheduled for October 7, the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. One event, a rally for "martyrs," is planned for a busy street in Wollongong, while another is a protest outside Sydney's city hall under the slogan "Don't let Israel steal the date." Social media posts by organizers reportedly omit any mention of the October 7 massacre, the hostages, or the victims, instead blaming Israel for initiating the war. A poster for the Wollongong event calls to commemorate those who "continue to resist," and a Sydney poster claims that attacks began by Israel on October 7.

The decision to allow these events on the anniversary has caused significant backlash from the Australian Jewish community. Michelle Goldman, CEO of the Jewish Community's Board of Deputies in New South Wales, compared the events to commemorating Al-Qaeda on September 11. She stated that if organizers choose to protest on this date, they must also acknowledge the Israelis, Jews, Arabs, foreign workers, and others murdered in the attacks. Goldman described the organizers' actions as a clear example of "bizarre anti-Israel obsession."

Despite widespread condemnation, public officials acknowledged limitations in preventing the events. Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, called the initiatives "offensive and reprehensible" but noted that High Court rulings protecting political free speech make it difficult to shut down peaceful protests. Both the Wollongong gathering, described as a "collective mourning without speeches," and the Sydney rally fall under these protections. However, Wollongong City Councillor Ryan Morris strongly criticized the decision to permit the event in his jurisdiction, calling the messages "absolutely disgusting" and stating the organizers should be ashamed.