Thousands march through Sydney CBD in pro-Palestinian protest two years into conflict

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The peace deal hasn't deterred thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators from marching through the streets of Sydney. While a court denied them the Opera House backdrop, organisers say their message will still be heard around the world.

Transcript

00:00For two years, they've taken their protest to the streets.

00:07We are all Palestinians!

00:11Two years of terror, two years of contraction of hope,

00:16two years of mass destruction.

00:20Since Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023,

00:23Israel's bombing of Gaza has been a near constant.

00:26But while the fighting might have stopped, protesters here say they can't afford to.

00:31Despite optimistic signs,

00:33we need to make sure that we keep the focus on those starving children in Gaza.

00:38Abubakar Rafiq has just returned to Australia

00:41after the IDF intercepted the aid flotilla he was on.

00:45He says he was slapped, kicked and humiliated in custody, which the IDF denies.

00:50And they did this with the goal that I will come home and I will remain silent.

00:55No way!

00:57But to those IDF soldiers, look now! We will never be silent!

01:04Police were out in force on the street, in the sky and even on water

01:09to ensure the march stayed away from the Sydney Opera House

01:12after the Court of Appeal banned it on public safety grounds.

01:16Without the Opera House and with challenging weather conditions,

01:19this was not the demonstration the protest organisers were hoping for.

01:23But they say that turning out now is as important as it's ever been.

01:27We think this peace deal offers no genuine peace,

01:30let alone self-determination for a decent life ahead for the people of Gaza.

01:35Organisers say the crowd was in the tens of thousands.

01:39Police say it was closer to 8,000.

01:42But they had plenty of company in cities and regional centres across Australia.

01:46It's a protest many say they hope to stop attending in the future,

01:50just not any time soon.

01:51We will be on fire!

01:53We will be on fire!

01:55We will be on fire!

01:56We will be on fire!

01:58We will be on fire!

01:59You

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended