Key Takeaways:
- Hundreds of people rallied in Sydney in support of Palestine, chanting a phrase that the premier has sought to ban.
- The New South Wales government is expected to pass a bill preventing rallies for up to three months in the wake of terror attacks.
- The phrase "globalise the intifada" has been condemned by Jewish groups and leaders, who claim it encourages hate and violent acts.
- The premier has warned that chanting the phrase may breach state law and has announced plans to ban it in 2026.
- Protesters argue that the phrase is a call to uprising and revolution, and that the premier’s claims vilify those who support Palestine.
Introduction to the Rally
The city of Sydney recently witnessed a significant gathering of people in support of Palestine, with hundreds attending a rally at the Town Hall. The event was marked by a minute’s silence for the victims of the Bondi shooting, and the crowd briefly chanted the phrase "globalise the intifada". This phrase, which has been at the center of controversy, was addressed by Sara Saleh, a human rights lawyer with Palestinian heritage. Saleh emphasized that she did not want any children to die like the attack’s youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda, and stated that she would continue to say "globalise the intifada, free Palestine". The crowd cheered and chanted the phrase, which refers to an Arabic word meaning uprising, revolution, or shaking-off.
The Meaning of Intifada
The term intifada has been used to describe Palestinian uprisings against Israel, with the first uprising taking place from 1987 to 1993 and the second from 2000 to around 2005. However, Jewish groups and leaders have described the phrase as a call to violence, and the premier has warned that chanting it may breach state law. Adam Adelour, a rally organiser and speaker, explained that intifada is an Arabic word that means uprising, revolution, or shaking-off, and that if there is more intifada against genocide, there will be less genocide. The crowd held banners explaining the word "intifada" and mocked the premier’s claim, with one woman turning to police and saying "globalise the intifada – arrest me".
Response from Authorities
The premier, Chris Minns, has announced plans to ban the phrase "globalise the intifada" in 2026, claiming it encourages hate and violent acts such as the Bondi shooting. Minns has also justified his move to ban rallies in the wake of terrorist events on the grounds that protest organisers are "unleashing forces that they can’t control". The police were present at the rally, with at least 13 officers attending, and the only arrest was of a man who shouted at protesters. The premier and police have asked people not to rally, a request that was already breached by an anti-immigration protest addressed by Barnaby Joyce on Sunday.
Protesters’ Concerns
The protesters argued that the premier’s claims vilify those who support Palestine, and that the phrase "globalise the intifada" is a call to uprising and revolution. Allon Uhlmann, a member of pro-Palestine group Jews against the occupation ’48, told the rally that Minns’ claims vilified those Jewish Australians and hundreds of thousands more who have marched in support of Palestine. The protesters also expressed concern about the new legislation, which will give police greater powers to remove face masks and prevent rallies for up to three months. Many attendees, regulars at previous pro-Palestine events, stayed after the hour-long rally’s end to voice their frustration and eat together, with some warning they could soon be unable to legally gather under the new laws.
Impact on Freedom of Speech
The new legislation has raised concerns about freedom of speech and the right to protest. Greens state MP Dr Amanda Cohn, whose grandparents fled the Holocaust, made an emotional address arguing that the reforms would stop vulnerable people from uniting. Michelle Berkon, a Jewish woman, was escorted from the memorial while wearing a keffiyeh the week prior, and she said that Monday’s rally served as a vigil for Palestine advocates unwelcome at Bondi beach’s memorial site. The protesters argued that the premier’s move to ban rallies and the phrase "globalise the intifada" is an attempt to silence them and prevent them from expressing their support for Palestine.
Conclusion
The rally in Sydney highlighted the controversy surrounding the phrase "globalise the intifada" and the premier’s plans to ban it. The protesters argued that the phrase is a call to uprising and revolution, and that the premier’s claims vilify those who support Palestine. The new legislation has raised concerns about freedom of speech and the right to protest, and the protesters have vowed to continue their support for Palestine despite the premier’s attempts to silence them. As one protester said, "there’s been so much real fear about what’s to come [and] we don’t know when we might be able to meet again". The future of protests and freedom of speech in New South Wales remains uncertain, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops in the coming months.
