Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gather in Perth CBD amid rising Middle East tensions

[Pelican Press 0]

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Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gather in Perth CBD amid rising Middle East tensions

Tensions threatened to boil over on Saturday during a protest in the Perth CBD as police seized a sign praising slain ******* chief leader Hassan Nasrallah but ******* to arrest the woman wielding it.

Demonstrators at the pro-Palestine rally had been warned not to carry anything bearing the former Hezbollah leader’s image or the flag of his militant group or face arrest.

Police Minister Paul Papalia had earlier on Saturday said that “if people display ********** insignia or portraits, or indicate that they’re preparing to act in a violent fashion, police will act”.

“It will not be tolerated, and action will be taken,” he said.

That echoed the words of Police Commissioner Col Blanch, who on Friday said there would be repercussions for anyone acting unlawfully.

“We can arrest people, seize the flags,” Mr Blanch said.

However, a woman carrying a placard featuring a picture of Nasrallah attached to a ************ flag and featuring the words, “assassinated for opposing genocide and resisting occupation … he refused to sell his conscience to the West” was not taken in by police.

Camera IconDemonstrators at the pro-Palestine rally had been warned not to carry anything bearing the former Hezbollah leader’s image or the flag of his militant group or face arrest. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West ***********

Almost a dozen officers were nearby as other protesters yelled at police while they questioned the woman.

Police quickly called for back-up as one demonstrator became aggressive, before three officers on horseback dispersed the group.

The Perth rally was part of the nationwide protests which have come under scrutiny for their timing just days out from the anniversary of the ****** ******* ******* on ******* on October 7 last year, which ******* more than 1200 people.

There was no repeat of the scenes in Melbourne and Sydney last weekend when Hezbollah’s bright yellow flag was prominent as people praised Nasrallah, who was ******* in an ******** air strike in Lebanon late last month.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconThe Perth rally was part of the nationwide protests which have come under scrutiny for their timing just days out from the anniversary of the ****** ******* ******* on ******* on October 7 last year, which ******* more than 1200 people. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West ***********

Before the weekend’s rallies, Federal, State and Territory police forces issued a rare ****** statement warning there would be swift action if any flags promoting Hezbollah, ****** or any other ******* group were on display.

Perth protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon as the ********* in the Middle East continues to escalate.

There was a large police presence throughout to monitor the hundreds-strong crowd, with officers speaking to several attendees about full face coverings while others held signs condemning the war and ongoing air strikes.

Speaking in Kalgoorlie earlier on Saturday, Premier Roger Cook and Mr Papalia both backed West Australians’ right to protest but issued a warning to demonstrators about displaying ********** insignia.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconThere was a large police presence throughout to monitor the hundreds-strong crowd, with officers speaking to several attendees about full face coverings while others held signs condemning the war and ongoing air strikes. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West ***********

“(Protesters) can’t do it in a way which undermines the peaceful community in which we live,” Mr Cook said.

Mr Papalia said there had been no applications for any protests in WA on October 7, the one-year anniversary of the ****** *******.

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate after ******** air strikes wiped out Hezbollah’s leadership and Iran launched a missile ******* on ******* earlier this week.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for Australians stranded in Lebanon to “take every opportunity” to leave the country as soon as possible with hundreds of Australians having already boarded repatriation flights from Beirut to Cyprus.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconTensions in the Middle East continue to escalate after ******** air strikes wiped out Hezbollah’s leadership and Iran launched a missile ******* on ******* earlier this week. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West ***********

*********** Human Rights Commission president Hugh de Kretser said there had been a rise in discrimination and hate speech in Australia but also backed people’s right to protest.

“I acknowledge the ongoing and escalating impact of the war on communities in Australia. We have heard from affected communities about their feelings of loss, uncertainty, *****, anger and grief at what is happening,” he said.

“We recognise the disturbing rise in incidents of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-***** and anti-************ racism in Australia.

“I call on *********** governments to protect people’s rights to peacefully assemble and protest.”

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