Grace Tame goes on another fiery rant against Israel and declares war with Rupert Murdoch
Grace Tame urged people at a Sydney rally to boycott Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers and accused governments of using antisemitism claims to distract from the Gaza conflict. Her appearance was her first public support for the Palestinian cause since she apologised for comments about reports of sexual violence during the Hamas-led 7 October attacks.
Organisers estimated about 5,000 people attended the Hyde Park protest, held three years after the attacks in which around 1,200 people were killed. Palestinian health officials say more than 74,000 people have since been killed and 175,000 wounded in Israeli bombardments. Australian Jewish Association president Robert Gregory condemned Tame’s remarks, saying antisemitism is a real threat and should not be dismissed as a political tool.
- Grace Tame called for a boycott of Murdoch newspapers.
- About 5,000 people attended a Gaza rally in Sydney.
- A Jewish association leader said her remarks dismissed real concerns.
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Grace Tame is an Australian activist best known for campaigning against child sexual abuse. She has become a prominent public figure whose political and social commentary regularly attracts significant media and public attention.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict intensified dramatically after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in extensive casualties and humanitarian concerns, with Palestinian officials reporting tens of thousands of deaths and injuries.
Australia has experienced heightened tensions around discussions of the Israel-Gaza conflict and antisemitism. Some argue that legitimate criticism of Israeli military operations is being characterised as antisemitic, whilst others maintain that genuine antisemitic sentiment has increased and should not be dismissed as a political tool.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 74,000 reported deaths, represents a genuine moral concern demanding urgent advocacy; treating military criticism as antisemitism can silence legitimate policy debate. Media concentration under Murdoch creates reasonable concerns about editorial bias and underrepresentation of Palestinian perspectives, justifying calls for public accountability and diverse coverage.
The case against
Characterising antisemitism concerns as political distraction risks minimising genuine threats to Jewish people and antisemitic sentiment that exists, including within pro-Palestinian movements. The conflict involves legitimate Israeli security concerns and significant casualties that cannot be overlooked, and principled campaigns should apply consistent standards rather than selectively targeting one nation, which critics argue may reflect problematic double standards.