In October 2024, Sydney became the focal point of intense political and legal debate when thousands of demonstrators took to the streets for pro-Palestine rallies marking one year since the escalation of the Gaza conflict. The events, organized by the Palestine Action Group, proceeded despite significant opposition from New South Wales Police, who sought to prohibit the gatherings through Supreme Court proceedings. The controversy surrounding these protests highlighted tensions between the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and concerns about public safety and community sensitivities.
The rallies represented the culmination of 52 consecutive weeks of demonstrations across Australian cities, making this one of the longest sustained anti-war movements in the nation’s history. After intense negotiations and legal proceedings, the Palestine Action Group successfully defended their right to demonstrate, with thousands gathering in Hyde Park on October 6, 2024, followed by a static vigil on October 7. The events drew significant media attention, political commentary, and sparked broader discussions about democratic rights, protest freedoms, and Australia’s role in international conflicts.
Legal Battle Between Police and Organizers
The days leading up to the October rallies were marked by unprecedented legal drama as NSW Police filed court proceedings seeking to prohibit two pro-Palestinian events scheduled for the weekend of October 6-7, 2024. Police Commissioner Karen Webb requested the cancellation of both events, citing safety concerns and the inability to ensure a secure environment for protesters and the broader community. Officers from Operation Shelter had engaged in extensive negotiations with protest organizers, who had submitted the required Form 1 documentation for each planned public assembly. However, police officials remained unconvinced that adequate safety measures could be implemented.
The Palestine Action Group responded to the police application with strong resistance, describing the attempt to ban their rallies as an attack on fundamental democratic rights. Organizer Damian Ridgwell told media outlets that the group planned to contest the application vigorously. The organization emphasized their track record of organizing peaceful rallies for 51 consecutive weeks without major incidents. Palestine Action Group spokesperson Amal Naser issued a public statement condemning what she characterized as political attacks aimed at silencing opposition to government policies regarding the Gaza conflict.
On October 3, 2024, after negotiations between protest organizers and police, NSW Police withdrew their Supreme Court application. The withdrawal came after organizers agreed to significant modifications to their original plans. The Sunday October 6 rally would commence in Hyde Park rather than at the initially proposed Town Hall location, with the procession following a renegotiated route that would not pass the Great Synagogue, home to Sydney’s oldest Jewish congregation. Organizers agreed that no flags, portraits, or symbols connected to prohibited terrorist organizations would be displayed during the events.
Political Context and Community Reactions
The October 2024 rallies took place against a backdrop of intense political debate about the appropriateness of protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the planned vigil as incredibly provocative and likely to cause significant community distress. In a media interview, Albanese emphasized that October 7 marked the largest number of Jewish deaths since the Holocaust, with approximately 1,200 people killed and 250 taken hostage during the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. Foreign Minister Penny Wong also expressed concerns about the timing of the demonstrations.
The political response to the rallies revealed deep divisions within the Australian government and broader society. Five NSW Labor Members of Parliament signaled their intention to participate in the October 6 march, with upper house MP Stephen Lawrence stating that the event had become absolutely inevitable largely due to mishandling by authorities. This internal Labor Party division reflected broader tensions within progressive political circles regarding Australian foreign policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the rights of citizens to express dissent through peaceful protest.
Community reactions were similarly polarized. Civil liberties organizations, including Amnesty International Australia, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Jewish Council of Australia, were among 40 groups that signed an open letter urging the NSW Police Commissioner to reconsider the decision to prohibit the rallies. The letter characterized the police application as a serious departure from state and police responsibilities to uphold democratic protest rights. These organizations argued that attempts to prevent the assemblies did not appear necessary or proportionate under international human rights obligations.
The October 6 Rally: Hyde Park to City Streets
On Sunday, October 6, 2024, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Hyde Park for what would become one of the most heavily policed protest events in recent Sydney history. The atmosphere was tense but orderly as protesters assembled under clear skies, with a notably substantial police presence including officers stationed at all entrances and exits of Hyde Park. Multiple riot squad vehicles were parked nearby, and the mounted police unit deployed numerous officers on horseback throughout the area. Police helicopters circled overhead during speeches, their distinctive sound punctuating the addresses of various speakers.
Palestine Action Group co-chair Jana Fayyad opened the rally by acknowledging the connections between the fight for Palestinian liberation and the struggle for First Nations justice in Australia. Uncle Dave Bell provided an Acknowledgement of Country, drawing parallels between the experiences of Palestinians and First Nations peoples in Australia. This framing of the Palestinian cause within broader anti-colonial and indigenous rights movements has become a consistent theme of the Palestine Action Group’s organizing approach, resonating particularly strongly with progressive activists in Sydney.
The speeches addressed multiple dimensions of the Gaza crisis and Australia’s relationship to it. Fayyad specifically called out media outlets present at the protest, asking how many of their colleagues needed to die before they cared about Palestinian journalists being targeted in Gaza. She declared that protesters had become their own media, showing atrocities and speaking for the voiceless. Lebanese-Australian speaker Tom Thoby expressed frustration with narratives suggesting everything started on October 7, calling for attendees to educate themselves about the longer history of the conflict and the complicity of various nations and Arab states.
First Nations Solidarity and Indigenous Perspectives
A significant aspect of the October 2024 rallies was the prominent role of First Nations activists and the explicit connections drawn between indigenous Australian experiences and Palestinian struggles. Lizzie Jarrett, a Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti activist, delivered a powerful speech that began by thanking the police presence for making the protest relevant through their attempts to suppress it. Jarrett called for Prime Minister Albanese to step down, citing hypocrisy given his past activism for the Palestinian cause.
Jarrett’s address included pointed criticism of police actions regarding Hezbollah symbols, arguing that the Australian flag represented more terrorism than the flag of Hezbollah given Australia’s colonial history and ongoing impacts on indigenous communities. She read a poem written by her son addressed to Palestine, concluding with a promise that the movement would not stop. This indigenous perspective on the Palestinian struggle has become increasingly central to the protest movement, with speakers regularly drawing parallels between settler colonialism in Australia and the occupation of Palestinian territories.
The presence of First Nations voices at the rallies served multiple purposes within the protest movement’s strategy. It provided moral authority to the demonstrations by connecting them to longer histories of resistance against colonial dispossession. It also challenged narratives that portrayed the protests as divisive or un-Australian, instead positioning support for Palestinian rights within Australia’s own unfinished process of reconciliation and decolonization. Senator Lidia Thorpe has been among the prominent First Nations politicians who have spoken at pro-Palestine rallies, emphasizing Aboriginal Australians’ sympathy with Palestinian struggles.
October 7 Vigil and Modified Arrangements
The October 7 vigil proceeded under significantly different conditions than originally planned, transformed into a static gathering rather than a moving march. This modification was crucial to the legal resolution that allowed the event to proceed without police prohibition. Unlike moving protests, static vigils in New South Wales do not require the same level of formal permitting and police coordination, though organizers still worked closely with authorities to ensure the event could proceed safely.
The vigil was scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM at Town Hall, commemorating what organizers described as the lives lost in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza over the previous twelve months. The static nature of the event meant that participants would gather in one location rather than marching through city streets, reducing concerns about traffic disruption and crowd management that had been central to police objections. Police maintained a significant presence at the vigil, monitoring the gathering for compliance with agreements regarding prohibited symbols and maintaining public order.
Palestine Action Group organizer Josh Lees spoke at the conclusion of the October 6 rally, inviting attendees to participate in the vigil the following evening. He framed the vigil as an opportunity to remember all victims of the conflict while maintaining focus on what protesters characterized as genocide in Gaza. The invitation emphasized the importance of sustained engagement with the cause beyond single protest events, encouraging participants to view their activism as part of a long-term movement for justice.
Police Operations and Security Measures
The police response to the October 2024 rallies represented one of the most extensive security operations deployed for a protest event in Sydney in recent years. Hundreds of officers were assigned to the October 6 march, with personnel drawn from various units including the riot squad, mounted police, and regular patrol divisions. The heavy police presence reflected both the large anticipated crowd size and heightened concerns about potential confrontations or security incidents given the controversial nature and timing of the demonstrations.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna addressed media during and after the events, explaining the rationale behind the force’s initial opposition to the rallies. McKenna expressed particular concern about the proposed route’s proximity to the Great Synagogue adjacent to Hyde Park, stating that such proximity could create a tinderbox situation requiring only one or two provocative comments from passersby to spark conflict. The renegotiated route that avoided the synagogue was presented as a compromise that addressed safety concerns while still allowing the protest to proceed.
Large notice boards in English, Arabic, and Farsi were placed at protest locations, explicitly warning attendees that Hezbollah flags, symbols, and portraits of Hassan Nasrallah should not be displayed at the public assembly. This multilingual approach reflected the diverse composition of the pro-Palestine movement in Sydney and authorities’ desire to communicate restrictions clearly to all participants. Police stated they would not hesitate to take appropriate action against anyone committing criminal offenses during the demonstrations.
Context of Weekly Protests Since October 2023
The October 2024 rallies marked a significant milestone in what had become a sustained weekly protest movement across Australia. Palestine Action Group and allied organizations had been conducting demonstrations every Sunday since October 7, 2023, initially in response to the escalation of violence following the Hamas attacks on southern Israel. By October 2024, these weekly gatherings had established a rhythm of activism that had persisted despite changing weather conditions, political pressure, and occasional controversies over participant conduct.
The weekly protests had evolved in both size and character over the course of the year. Early demonstrations in October 2023 had been particularly controversial, with a rally at the Sydney Opera House drawing criticism from Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Albanese for alleged antisemitic rhetoric and violence. A small group of participants had lit flares and burned Israeli flags, leading to government apologies and police investigations. These initial incidents shaped subsequent discussions about protest conduct and the balance between free expression and community safety.
By the time of the October 2024 anniversary rallies, organizers had established more structured protocols for their events. Rally coordinators worked to prevent display of prohibited symbols and discouraged interaction with counter-protesters or police. Speakers at events regularly reminded attendees about the importance of discipline and focus on the central message of calling for an end to military operations in Gaza. This evolution in protest organization reflected lessons learned over months of sustained activism and responses to criticism about earlier demonstrations.
The Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
The October 2024 rallies took place against the backdrop of an increasingly dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with international organizations reporting catastrophic conditions affecting the territory’s civilian population. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, by October 2024, the Palestinian death toll had exceeded 41,000 people, with more than 96,000 injured since October 7, 2023. The demographic breakdown of casualties showed that significant proportions of those killed were women and children, with children comprising approximately 30 percent of total casualties.
International humanitarian organizations had repeatedly raised alarms about conditions in Gaza throughout 2024. The United Nations and various aid agencies reported severe shortages of food, clean water, medical supplies, and safe shelter. By October 2024, reports indicated that 96 percent of Gaza’s population faced acute levels of food insecurity, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warning of persistent famine risk across the entire territory. The situation was particularly severe in northern Gaza, where military operations had been most intense and access for humanitarian convoys most restricted.
Healthcare infrastructure in Gaza had suffered extensive damage during the conflict. Medical facilities, which were already strained before October 2023, had been further compromised by direct strikes, siege conditions, and critical shortages of supplies and fuel. Healthcare workers documented mounting casualties among medical personnel, with reports indicating that over 600 health workers had been killed in the conflict by October 2024. These conditions formed the central humanitarian justification cited by protest organizers for their continued demonstrations calling for ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access.
International Law and Human Rights Perspectives
Human rights organizations and international law experts weighed in extensively on both the situation in Gaza and the right to protest in Australia during October 2024. Amnesty International Australia, which endorsed the Palestine Action Group’s rallies, emphasized that peaceful protest represents a fundamental right under international law and serves as a vital mechanism for citizens to demand accountability from their governments. The organization expressed concern about what it characterized as attempts to suppress protest rights in Australia and globally over the previous three years.
Legal scholars and civil liberties advocates argued that the NSW Police application to prohibit the October rallies raised significant questions about the scope of protest rights in Australia. The open letter signed by 40 civil society organizations contended that restrictions on protest must be necessary, proportionate, and justified under human rights law. These groups argued that the police application did not meet these standards, particularly given the Palestine Action Group’s record of conducting peaceful weekly demonstrations for nearly a year without major incidents of violence or serious public disorder.
The Jewish Council of Australia, which joined other organizations in opposing the police prohibition attempt, rejected suggestions that protests supporting Palestinian rights inherently made Jewish people uncomfortable or unsafe. Representatives of the organization argued that such characterizations themselves encouraged racism and social division. This perspective highlighted complexities within Jewish Australian communities regarding Israel-Palestine issues, with diverse viewpoints existing on questions of Israeli government policy and appropriate responses to the Gaza conflict.
Media Coverage and Public Discourse
Media coverage of the October 2024 rallies reflected broader patterns that had characterized reporting on pro-Palestine demonstrations throughout the year. Mainstream Australian media outlets devoted substantial attention to the legal proceedings between police and organizers, the concerns of political leaders about timing and community sensitivities, and details of security arrangements. Coverage often emphasized the controversial aspects of the protests, including their timing coinciding with the October 7 anniversary and past incidents involving prohibited symbols at other demonstrations.
Pro-Palestine activists and their supporters criticized what they viewed as biased or incomplete media coverage that failed to adequately contextualize the rallies within the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Speakers at the October 6 rally specifically addressed journalists present, questioning why mainstream media devoted more attention to debates about protest appropriateness than to reporting on casualties among Palestinian journalists and civilians. This critique reflected broader activist frustrations with perceived media framing that focused on domestic controversies rather than the international humanitarian concerns motivating the demonstrations.
Alternative and social media played increasingly important roles in disseminating information about the protests and the situations they aimed to highlight. Palestine Action Group and allied organizations maintained active social media presences, using platforms to announce events, share documentation of rallies, and provide their perspectives on developments in Gaza. These channels allowed organizers to communicate directly with supporters and sympathetic audiences, partially circumventing what they viewed as limitations and biases in mainstream media coverage.
Political Divisions and Labor Party Tensions
The October 2024 rallies exposed and deepened existing tensions within Australia’s Labor Party regarding policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The willingness of five NSW Labor MPs to participate in the October 6 march, despite concerns expressed by Prime Minister Albanese and other senior party figures, revealed significant internal disagreements about appropriate responses to the Gaza situation. These divisions reflected broader challenges facing center-left parties globally in navigating competing pressures regarding Middle East policy.
The involvement of Labor MPs in the rallies signaled that the protests had support beyond traditional activist circles and extended into elements of the parliamentary Labor caucus. This development complicated the government’s messaging about the rallies and raised questions about unity on foreign policy issues. Some Labor parliamentarians argued that attending the rallies represented appropriate constituency representation, particularly for MPs representing areas with significant Arab and Muslim populations who had been vocal in demanding policy changes regarding Gaza.
The tensions within Labor paralleled broader debates in the party about its historical commitments to human rights, international law, and its relationships with both Australian Jewish communities and Arab and Muslim communities. Some party members argued that Labor’s traditional values required stronger advocacy for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza. Others contended that support for Israel’s security needs and sensitivity to domestic Jewish community concerns should guide party positions. These internal debates continued to shape Labor’s approach to Middle East policy throughout 2024.
Counter-Protests and Community Responses
While the October 2024 pro-Palestine rallies represented the most visible public mobilizations, they occurred within a context of diverse community responses to the Gaza conflict. Pro-Israel demonstrations had been held periodically in Sydney and other Australian cities, calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas and opposing what participants characterized as antisemitic elements within pro-Palestine activism. These counter-mobilizations reflected the deeply felt connections many Australian Jews maintained with Israel and their concerns about rising antisemitism.
Jewish community organizations expressed ongoing concerns about the impacts of pro-Palestine demonstrations on community safety and wellbeing. Some Jewish community leaders argued that large protests, particularly those occurring on dates of significance such as the October 7 anniversary, contributed to feelings of vulnerability and marginalization among Australian Jews. These perspectives shaped political debates about appropriate limitations on protest rights and influenced police approaches to managing demonstrations addressing Middle East conflicts.
However, the participation of Jewish peace activists and organizations like the Jewish Council of Australia in supporting the right to hold pro-Palestine protests complicated straightforward narratives about Jewish community positions. The presence of Jews Against the Occupation and similar groups at rallies demonstrated internal diversity within Jewish communities regarding Israeli policy and Palestinian rights. These organizations argued that opposition to Israeli military actions did not constitute antisemitism and that Jewish values of justice required support for Palestinian human rights.
Impact on Australian Foreign Policy Debate
The sustained protest movement exemplified by the October 2024 rallies contributed to evolving public discourse about Australian foreign policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While immediate policy changes remained limited, the consistent presence of large demonstrations kept Gaza prominently on the political agenda and created pressure on government officials to address humanitarian concerns. The protests helped elevate discussions about Australia’s arms export policies, aid to Gaza, and diplomatic positions on Israeli military operations.
Some observers argued that the protests had influenced incremental shifts in government rhetoric, even if fundamental policy positions remained largely unchanged. The Albanese government’s occasional criticisms of Israeli settlement expansion and calls for humanitarian access to Gaza occurred alongside these sustained public mobilizations. Whether these statements represented genuine policy evolution or rhetorical gestures to manage political pressures remained subjects of debate among analysts and activists.
The protests also sparked broader conversations about Australia’s role in global conflicts and the ethical dimensions of international relationships. Activists highlighted connections between Australian companies and Israeli military supply chains, particularly regarding F-35 fighter jet components produced in Australia. These linkages became focal points for campaigns demanding divestment and changes to defense export policies, with protesters arguing that Australia bore responsibility for facilitating military actions they characterized as violations of international humanitarian law.
Conclusion
The October 2024 pro-Palestine rallies in Sydney represented a significant moment in Australian activism and debates about democratic rights. The successful legal defense of the right to protest, achieved through negotiations between the Palestine Action Group and NSW Police, preserved the principle of peaceful assembly while addressing legitimate safety and community concerns through modified arrangements. The thousands who participated in the October 6 march and October 7 vigil demonstrated the sustained commitment of many Australians to demanding government action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
These events highlighted ongoing tensions between competing rights and values in diverse democratic societies. The rallies asserted the fundamental importance of protest as a mechanism for citizens to express dissent and demand accountability from elected officials. Simultaneously, the controversies surrounding the protests reflected genuine concerns within segments of the Australian community, particularly Jewish Australians, about timing, messaging, and community impacts of demonstrations addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As the Gaza conflict continued beyond its first anniversary, the October 2024 rallies marked a point of continuity in what had become Australia’s longest sustained anti-war movement in recent memory. The weekly demonstrations that preceded and followed these milestone events demonstrated the determination of activists to maintain pressure on political leaders regarding Australian policy toward the conflict. Whether this sustained mobilization would ultimately influence meaningful policy changes remained an open question as participants in the movement looked ahead to continued advocacy for what they characterized as justice and human rights for Palestinians.
