Rallies demand Labor uphold ICC arrest warrant, cut ties with Netanyahu

November 25, 2024

Issue

A young Palestinian, who was also celebrating her birthday, leads the chanting at the protest on Gadigal Country on November 24. Photo: Peter Boyle

Days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes, thousands took to streets across Australia, for the 59th consecutive week, to demand the federal Labor government publicly commit to enforcing the warrants and take steps to stop enabling genocide in Gaza.

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has only said that she “respects the independence of the ICC and its important role in upholding international law”.

Alexander Downer, the disgraced former Coalition foreign minister, has urged her to reject the ICC’s directive, as has the United States.

Hungary’s illiberal Prime Minister Viktor Orbán dismissed the ICC warrant and immediately invited Netanyahu to visit. European governments, such as the right-wing coalition governing Italy, are divided. The ICC’s directive is due to be discussed at a G7 meeting in Italy, November 23–27.

One-hundred-and-twenty-four countries, including Hungary, are party to the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court, meaning that to respect for international law requires them to arrest Netanyahu if he travels to their country.

Mary Merkenich reports that, despite the bad weather, thousands joined the Free Palestine Melbourne march in Naarm/Melbourne on November 24.

Larrakia Tiwi woman Mililima May spoke alongside Palestinian-Australian Muayad Ali and Saarah Baarini, as well high school students Ayah and Retal. to endorse these weekly rallies.

Thousands also marched through the centre of Gadigal Country/Sydney against Israel’s genocide in the same day. Peter Boyle reports they demanded Australia respect the ICC warrant for the arrests of war criminals.

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Associate Professor Peter Slezak addresses the rally on Gadigal Country. Photo: Peter Boyle

Associate Professor Peter Slezak, son of an Auschwitz survivor, took on some of the Zionist lies about the pro-Palestine movement. He said he knows what antisemitism “feels like” and he had “never felt it at the rallies”.

“We need to listen to Palestinians such as Lana Tatour and Nasser Mashni, who have been articulating liberation as an inclusive project of equal rights for all.”

Slezak quoted Australian Palestine Advocacy Network President Mashni, who said: “The reason we say ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’ is because we mean everyone. If you have a problem with everyone being free, because you only want some people to be free, the problem is not the chant; the problem is you.”

NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Jepke Goudsmit from Jews Against the Occupation ’48 were the other speakers who demanded that Australia respect the ICC’s arrest warrant of Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes. They called on Labor to sanction Israel and end its arms trade with the genocidal Zionist state.

Goudsmit drew attention to their to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles demanding that Labor impose a “complete boycott, sanctions and divestment policy on Israel”.

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Rallying in Boorloo/Perth. Photo: Jews for a Free Palestine/Facebook

The fortnightly Friends of Palestine (FOPWA) protest in Boorloo/Perth drew hundreds into the hot streets. Sam Wainwright reports that the speakers included Dr Jeremy Hickey, an anaesthetist who worked in hospitals in Gaza, Neda Blackwood from the recently formed Teachers for Palestine, Ahmed Abu Marzouk, a Palestinian from Gaza, Alexis Vassiley, from Academics for Palestine and Ramona Mitussis, from APHEDA-Union Aid Abroad.

They called for an end to the genocide in North Gaza and demanded that Labor expel the Israeli ambassador, stop arming Israel and impose sanctions on Israel.

FOPWA spokesperson Nick Everett said: “With [Donald] Trump’s previous administration having strongly supported Israel’s settler movement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies have become increasingly emboldened. Annexation of Palestinian territory in both Gaza and the West Bank is now a very real prospect.”

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Boorloo protest. Photo: Jews for a Free Palestine

Solidarity with Palestine was a part of the Rising Ride People’s Blockade of the world’s biggest coal port in Muloobinba/Newcastle over November 23–24. A Palestine solidarity flotilla launched on November 23, with speeches on the beach before activists paddled out into the harbour.