Pro-Palestine groups plan 7 October vigils in Sydney and Wollongong
Pro-Palestine groups have organised vigils for 7 October in New South Wales, marking the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. The demonstrations, scheduled for Sydney Town Hall and Crown Street Mall in Wollongong, have drawn fierce criticism from politicians and Jewish leaders, who contend that holding protests on this date is deliberately provocative and insensitive to communities still mourning the attack and subsequent conflict in Gaza.
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the planned vigils as "obscene", while Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane called the timing "deliberate and cruel". The organisations behind the vigils—Jews Against The Occupation '48 and Wollongong Friends of Palestine—have stated their events will be peaceful and stationary. NSW Police have been notified of the gatherings, though only Wollongong police had received formal authorisation applications by Tuesday. A separate vigil is also planned in Melbourne outside the State Library of Victoria, where the Victorian Premier has warned that police will intervene if anti-vilification laws are breached.
- Pro-Palestine vigils scheduled for October 7 anniversary in New South Wales
- Politicians criticise timing as deliberately provocative and insensitive
- Police monitoring planned demonstrations that organisers say will be peaceful
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On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hostages. This date sparked an intense military conflict that has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, particularly in Gaza. The anniversary has become emotionally charged for many communities globally.
For Jewish communities and those affected by the attack, 7 October is a day of mourning and remembrance. Many Palestinians and their supporters view it as connected to wider suffering caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This fundamental difference in how communities understand the date creates ongoing tension.
These different perspectives create disagreement about how to mark the anniversary. Some believe that focusing on Palestinian suffering on this particular date is insensitive to those mourning Israeli deaths. Others argue it is important to remember all suffering, regardless of which community is affected. This fundamental disagreement helps explain why 7 October remains a point of controversy.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Pro-Palestine advocates argue that the right to peaceful, stationary protest is fundamental to democracy, and that restricting assembly based on others' emotional reactions sets a dangerous precedent for suppressing dissent. They contend that October 7 marks the beginning of the current conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, making it an appropriate moment to advocate for Palestinian welfare and draw attention to civilian suffering. The organisers' stated commitment to peaceful commemoration, combined with their democratic entitlement to assemble, should not be overridden simply because officials find the timing inconvenient.
The case against
Critics argue that October 7 specifically commemorates a mass attack in which over one thousand civilians were killed and hostages taken, and that communities remain in active mourning. They contend that choosing this date appears deliberately designed to inflame tensions rather than contribute to constructive dialogue, and that advocates genuinely concerned with Palestinian welfare could communicate their message effectively on virtually any other day. The argument is grounded not in suppressing protest itself, but in the principle that demonstrable sensitivity to ongoing grief and respect for a day of genuine tragedy should inform decisions about when to hold politically charged demonstrations.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Fury erupts as pro-Palestine groups plan vigils for anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack: ‘Deliberate and cruel’”.