March on Albanese Saturday March 22: Stop arming Israel
A Palestinian refugee carries his injured grandchildren from the Israeli bombing of Nuseirat Camp, Gaza Strip.
Stop the War on Palestine (SWOP) will lead a pre-election march on Prime Minster Anthony Albanese’s office on Saturday March 22.
The protest will begin at Sydenham station car-park at 1pm and march through Albanese’s electorate of Marrickville. The march will demand Albanese stop arming Israel and impose sanctions immediately.
The protest will be addressed by speakers including Hannah Thomas Greens candidate for Grayndler and Mariam Tohamy from Teachers and School Staff for Palestine NSW.
SWOP spokesperson Adam Adelpour says: “We will be taking our message to Albanese's doorstep- complicity with Israel’s genocide must end now.”
“Israel has restarted its genocidal war on Gaza, unilaterally ending the ceasefire. Israel’s latest wave of bombing has slaughtered 400 and counting. There must be sanctions and an end to two way arms trade immediately.”
“Every F-35 used to drop bombs on Gaza has components manufactured only in Australia. Albanese has blood on his hands.” he continued.
The march will demand the Albanese act on the 2024 ICJ ruling, and sanction apartheid Israel. As part of its obligations under international law, the Australian government must not provide support to Israel in any way which would maintain its illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
SWOP calls on the Australian government to stop arms trade with Israel now. Australia produces key components in the supply chain for Israel’s munitions and military equipment. Parts for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets are produced in Bankstown in Western Sydney. The Australian government awarded a $917 M contract to Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit systems even after one of its drones killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom in Gaza.
The protest will also demand the closure of the US Pine Gap spy base. The base monitors the Middle East and sends highly detailed intelligence and targeting information directly to Israel. Pine Gap’s significant role makes Australia complicit, and makes the base a prime target should international conflicts escalate.
SWOP spokesperson Adam Adelpour says: “Albanese’s failure to condemn Donald Trump’s call for ethnic cleansing in Gaza is disgraceful. Trump’s access to Australian military bases must end now.”
In addition the protest will say no to all forms of racism and Islamophobia. Albanese has used appalling attacks on synagogues and a caravan bomb scare to justify a crackdown on Palestine supporters with new laws restricting free speech and the right to protest. These attacks have now been confirmed to be tied to organised crime and nothing whatsoever to do with Palestine supporters. He has also hypocritically ignored or downplayed escalating attacks against Muslims and Arabs.
“Albanese’s cowardice in only emboldening Peter Dutton’s racist rampage in the lead up to the election.” Adelpour says.
For media contact call: Adam Adelpour 0400 351 694