Australia news live: Protesters say ‘we have the right to demonstrate’ at pro-Palestinian rallies in Sydney and Melbourne | Israel-Gaza War

Emily Wind

Kamilawho did not want to share her last name, came from Westmead for today’s rally, but is originally from New Zealand.

She started attending the rallies in December last year and admitted she was a little nervous the first time, but when she arrived she felt “just love” and has made many friends.

I feel it is my duty as a human being. As someone who lives here in this country from another country, I feel it is my duty to speak and give a voice to those who have no voice.

And if the same thing happened to Israel or France, I would do the same. It’s about humanity, and I think as humanity – as collective humanity – we have failed, and that’s why I’m here today.

Emily Wind

“We are peaceful activists, we are anti-war activists and we have the right to demonstrate.”

Cherish Kuehlmanna UNSW student from the group Students for Palestine, said she started coming to the meetings a year ago as often as she could.

Today’s meeting is being held one day before the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel in which 1,450 people were killed or kidnapped, shortly after which Israel began a retaliatory campaign in Gaza that has resulted in the killing of at least 41,000 people – mostly civilians and many children. – be killed.

The rallies have now been held in Sydney for 52 weeks.

Kuehlmann said this has become “one of the largest anti-war movements, absolutely the most consistent anti-war movement in Australian history”.

It’s bad to accept what’s happening. We all see it on our phones, and so increasing support… and (encouraging) more people to come out is important…

I just think it’s the… moral crime of our generation.

The student said efforts by NSW Police to try to stop today’s demonstration felt like “deja vu” when the demonstrations first started and were denounced by certain politicians.

We have shown that we are peaceful activists, anti-war activists and that we have the right to demonstrate.

An eight-year-old child has died and a woman is missing after a fire broke out in residential units in Thorneside, east of Brisbane, this morning.

According to ABC reports, a crime scene had been declared.

Chief Inspector of the Queensland Police Service Karl Hahne said:

Tragically, we found one deceased person in the building.

One person is still missing. However, we strongly believe that person is also in the fire.

The fire was brought under control just after 8am on Sunday, according to a Queensland Fire Service spokesperson.

A roof collapsed on one unit, while the fire damaged two others.

Police place large LED signs at pro-Palestine rally in Sydney warning against showing Hezbollah images

Emily Wind

The pro-Palestine rally in Sydney starts at 1pm, but there is already a huge turnout in Hyde Park.

Large crowds of all ages have gathered with protest signs and Palestinian flags, and dozens of police are already present.

Police have installed two large LED screens in the park, warning people not to fly Hezbollah flags or images of the slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.

There is a row of market stalls with people selling their wares, and attendees have gathered in the shade ahead of the rally in 25 degrees Celsius heat.

Ellen Vera is attending for the first time today, having traveled from Casula, southwest of Sydney. She said she was not a political person but that the conflict “must stop”.

It’s inhumane. Humanity has disappeared.

Vera said she was walking “for the children, the women and the men who cannot get treatment because the hospitals are all blown up.”

Two paratroopers reportedly involved in a mid-air collision have been taken to hospital, according to Queensland Ambulance.

A spokesman said paramedics attended the Toogoolawah showground – about 118km northwest of Brisbane – after receiving reports that two paratroopers had collided in mid-air.

A male patient with significant and potentially life-threatening head injuries was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, she said.

The other patient with a leg injury was in a stable condition and was transported by road to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

A young man died at the Knockout music festival in Sydney last night, according to NSW Police.

Police Commissioner, Karen Webb, said the death was an “unfortunate circumstance” referred to the coroner.

We understand he had underlying health conditions and there is no evidence he took drugs.

Webb said there had been some drug-related hospitalizations linked to the festival.

It’s always risky. When you use illegal drugs, you never know where they were made, you don’t know what’s in them, and you don’t know how your body is going to react.

Emily Wind

The NSW Police Minister, Yasmin Catley, also addressed the candlelight vigil planned for tomorrow, October 7, and asked people to “think about social cohesion.”

We ask people to be sensitive. It is clear that there is a lot of pain and emotion in our community, and I would urge people to think about that mix of social cohesion.