On Thursday, four pro-Palestine protesters were arrested for scaling the roof of Australia's Parliament House in Canberra, marking a significant security breach condemned by lawmakers. This incident coincided with a ruling party senator's resignation over the government's position on Palestine.
The protesters occupied the roof for about an hour, displaying black banners, one of which read, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," a slogan commonly used by pro-Palestine activists. One protester used a megaphone to accuse the Israeli government of committing war crimes, an allegation the Israeli government denies. The protester declared, "We will not forget, we will not forgive and we will continue to resist."
Authorities advised people to avoid the main entrance during the protest, while security personnel attempted to remove the activists. The protesters eventually took down their banners and were escorted away by police around 11:30 am local time. The four individuals were charged with trespassing and banned from the parliamentary grounds for two years, according to an Australian Capital Territory police spokesperson.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the protests, stating, "Those responsible should feel the full force of the law. Peaceful protest has an important place in our society, but this was not a peaceful protest." Milton Dick, the Speaker of Australia's lower house, announced an investigation into the security lapse.
In a related political development, Senator Fatima Payman of the ruling Labour Party resigned to become an independent after being suspended for supporting a motion backing Palestinian statehood. "Witnessing our government's indifference to the greatest injustice of our times makes me question the direction the party is taking," she said at a news conference. This defection could complicate Labour's efforts to pass legislation, as the party lacks a Senate majority.
Australia, which has called for a ceasefire in the conflict, does not currently recognize Palestinian statehood. However, Foreign Minister Penny Wong indicated in May that this stance might change before a formal peace process between Israel and Palestinian authorities is concluded.
The Gaza conflict escalated on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. Israel's subsequent offensive has resulted in nearly 38,000 deaths in Gaza and extensive destruction, according to the Gaza health ministry. A UN inquiry last month found that both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the early stages of the conflict, with Israel's actions also being classified as crimes against humanity due to significant civilian casualties.
Since the conflict began, Australia has witnessed several pro-Palestine protests, including weekly demonstrations in major cities and prolonged occupations of university campuses.
