Sydney pro-Palestinian vigil displays PFLP flag on 7 October anniversary
A pro-Palestinian vigil in Sydney on the anniversary of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks displayed a flag linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and a tribute to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The gathering drew criticism from political leaders, who said holding it on that date and displaying militant-group symbols could deepen community tensions.
Dozens attended the event organised by Jews Against the Occupation ’48. It included speeches, poetry and calls for solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, alongside a banner referencing Hamas’s name for the attack. The PFLP is designated a terrorist organisation by the US, Canada and the EU; the attacks killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. NSW Premier Chris Minns called the vigil “heartless” but said authorities lacked the legal power to stop it, while Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane criticised the flag.
- Sydney vigil displayed PFLP and Hamas-related symbols.
- The event took place on the 7 October attack anniversary.
- NSW leaders condemned the timing and symbols.
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On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and triggered a wider conflict. This date has become significant in discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with people holding vigils and events on the anniversary to mark different perspectives on what happened and its aftermath. The vigil in Sydney was held to mark this anniversary, though the timing and symbols used proved controversial.
The event was organised by Jews Against the Occupation '48 and featured speeches, poetry and expressions of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Among the symbols displayed was a flag associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a militant organisation designated as terrorist by the United States, Canada and the European Union. The vigil also included a tribute to Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas leader.
Political leaders in New South Wales criticised the gathering, with Premier Chris Minns calling it "heartless" and Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane objecting to the flag being displayed. The controversy reflects broader tensions around how communities mark anniversaries and remember conflicts, and differing views about what symbols and expressions are acceptable in public spaces. Authorities determined they lacked legal powers to prevent the vigil from taking place.
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The case for
Pro-Palestinian advocates contend that the PFLP and Hamas represent legitimate Palestinian resistance movements whose Western designation as terrorist organisations reflects political bias rather than objective reality. They argue that Palestinian solidarity necessarily includes acknowledging these movements' historical role in Palestinian struggle, and that suppressing such symbols would effectively censor Palestinian political expression. From this perspective, the vigil represents a valid exercise in free speech and the right to express solidarity with Palestinian causes without external pressure to self-censor.
The case against
Critics argue that supporting Palestinian rights need not require endorsing or honouring armed groups that have killed civilians, and that doing so actively harms the Palestinian cause by alienating potential allies and deepening community divisions. They contend that displaying such tributes on 7 October—when Hamas killed 1,200 people—is unnecessarily provocative and shows insensitivity to victims of violence. Rather than advancing Palestinian justice, such actions suggest that Palestinian advocacy cannot succeed through dialogue and non-violent means, undermining the very case for Palestinian self-determination based on humanitarian principles.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Terror group’s flag is waved in Sydney at radical pro-Palestine rally held on the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel”.