A flag associated with a designated terrorist organisation and a tribute to slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar were displayed at a pro-Palestinian vigil in Sydney marking the anniversary of the October 7 attack.
Dozens of people attended the gathering on Wednesday night, which was organised by Jews Against the Occupation ’48.
One activist held a poster showing Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader widely regarded as the architect of the 2023 October 7 assault on Israel.
The co-ordinated surprise attack targeted a music festival and communities in southern Israel. It was carried out by Hamas, the group that controls Gaza.
About 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the assault. The attack was followed by a major and prolonged Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza.
A flag featuring the emblem of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine was also present at the vigil. The socialist group is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, Canada and the European Union.
The flag appeared alongside a banner referring to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the name Hamas gave to its October 7 military assault.
The PFLP publicly endorsed the attack at the time. In a statement published on its website on the day of the assault, it called on Palestinians to participate in the operation.
An attendee held a sign depicting slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar (pictured) at a pro-Palestinian vigil in Sydney marking the anniversary of the October 7 attack.
Dozens of people gathered in Sydney on Wednesday night for the event organised by Jews Against the Occupation ’48.
An activist carried a flag bearing the emblem of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a political group that advocates the destruction of the State of Israel.
‘The Popular Front called on the sons of our heroic people throughout Palestine to actively participate in the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ battle, each from his own position and with whatever tools he possesses, to pounce on the enemy army and its settlers, cut off its supply routes, sabotage its vital facilities, and pursue the terrified Zionist invaders,’ it said.
Founded in 1967, the PFLP advocates the destruction of Israel and the creation of a socialist Palestinian state.
The group rejects a two-state solution and has declined to take part in the Palestinian Authority, the region’s interim self-government body.
The PFLP became notorious during the 1970s for a series of high-profile terrorist attacks, including the simultaneous hijacking of three passenger planes and the seizure of OPEC headquarters in Vienna.
Although symbols associated with militant organisations were displayed, much of Wednesday’s vigil featured peaceful speeches, poetry readings and calls for solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Promotional material for the event carried the slogan: ‘Don’t Let Israel Steal the Date’.
Organisers said Israel’s ‘genocidal airstrikes began on 7 October 2023’ and encouraged supporters to attend the anniversary gathering in solidarity with Gaza.
Holding the vigil on the anniversary drew strong condemnation from both sides of New South Wales politics.
A banner displayed the name of the Hamas operation used for the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
NSW Premier Chris Minns had labelled the vigil as ‘heartless’ given it marked the date of Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians
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NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane slammed the presence of the pro-terror symbols.
‘Flying the flag of an extremist group on the anniversary of October 7 is an appalling provocation and deeply damaging to social cohesion,’ she told Daily Mail.
‘We support freedom of speech and lawful protest, but those freedoms must never become a cover for glorifying violence or spreading hate.’
Premier Chris Minns earlier this week branded the event ‘heartless’ while acknowledging authorities had no legal power to prevent it from proceeding.
‘There are some people suggesting it can be stopped. The Constitution doesn’t allow that,’ he said.
‘They can certainly do that. It’s not against the law, but, as a citizen, I’ve got a right to make a judgement on it too.’
A spokesperson for the NSW Government condemned the flags.
‘There is no place for the promotion or glorification of terrorism,’ they told Daily Mail.
‘The NSW Government has significantly strengthened hate speech laws and made clear that anyone who breaks them can expect to face the full force of the law.’
Splinter pro-Palestine groups in Australia had organised the vigils to coincide with the anniversary in Sydney and Melbourne, while some other pro-Palestine groups were opposed to them being held on the date.
In Melbourne, tensions between demonstrators and police quickly flared as a rival Israeli group held a counter-protest.
Pictures from the scene show protesters, notably Israeli activist and broadcaster Avi Yemini, screaming at officers.
