Australians Abroad Warned to Stay Away From October 7 Protests

At home, Tony Burke calls a planned Bankstown rally ‘deeply insensitive,’ as NSW Police seek to block a Sydney protest on safety grounds.

Pro-Palestinian protesters stand in front of a large flag and banner at a rally in Sydney on May 15, 2024. DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images

Australians overseas have been warned to steer clear of demonstrations this week, as global protests tied to the Gaza conflict and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks raise fresh security concerns.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has issued a worldwide Smartraveller alert urging citizens to “put safety first” and avoid gatherings that could turn violent.

The department said unrest “linked to the situation in the Middle East may occur in countries worldwide, including around the Oct. 7 anniversary.”

Travellers are being told to monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities, as even peaceful demonstrations can escalate quickly.

DFAT also reminded Australians that protests are banned in some countries, warning that “if you break the law, local authorities could arrest or jail you,” even if caught unintentionally near an illegal rally.

Protests and Vigils Across Australia

At home, a mix of commemorations and protests have been planned to mark two years since Hamas’s deadly assault on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage.

Jewish communities will hold vigils in Sydney and Melbourne, honouring the victims and calling for the release of those still held captive.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-Chief Executive Alex Ryvchin said the anniversary was a moment for reflection.

“Hamas is a uniquely cruel and sadistic enemy whose statements can never be taken at face value,” he said.

“U.S. political power and Israeli military power has isolated Hamas, creating the conditions for its surrender and a permanent end to this war. We are thankful for both.”

Burke Calls Rally ‘Insensitive’

Pro-Palestinian groups, meanwhile, are organising vigils and marches to highlight Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, where local authorities say more than 66,000 people have been killed since the conflict began.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has criticised plans by the group Stand4Palestine—linked to Hizb ut-Tahrir, a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK government—to hold a rally in Bankstown on Oct. 7 honouring “resistance.”

“Oct. 7, 2023, was a day of violence and horror,” Burke told The Australian.

“There is nothing to celebrate or honour in the terrorism of that day. There is no legitimate reason for the organisers to choose Oct. 7. The mainstream Palestinian groups have had the decency to avoid this date.”

Police Move to Stop Sydney March

In Sydney, tensions are mounting ahead of another planned pro-Palestinian march from Hyde Park to the Opera House on Oct. 12.

The Palestine Action Group has lodged a permit seeking approval for the rally, which calls for Australia to sanction Israel and end defence exports related to F-35 fighter jets.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said the force had sought legal advice to block the protest.

“We’ve been in discussions with organisers and the Opera House trustees,” he said. “We’ve now asked the NSW Office of General Counsel to object to the assembly in the Supreme Court.”

Organiser Ihab Al Azhari said protesters would not back down.

“We’re going to start this on ... the second anniversary of the seventh of October,” he said.

“To celebrate these people—the women, the children, the elders—who sacrificed their lives. Don’t let the Zionists take that day from us.”

Jewish leaders and state officials said the remarks were “deeply distressing,” warning that the timing risks inflaming already fragile community tensions.

AAP contributed to this article.