Posted on Friday, 11 October
Israel is invading Lebanon. No, it’s not 2006, 1982 or 1978, its 2024 and we are 51 weeks into Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli state, hungry for even more war and emboldened by support from countries like the US and Australian has turned its eyes on Lebanon, for the fourth time in the last 45 years.
At Melbourne's 51st Free Palestine rally, the rally chair and Victorian Socialist candidate for the federal seat of Calwell, Omar Hassan started by speaking about Israel’s latest escalations.
“These are truly shocking times, dangerous times, deadly times for people of the Middle East and to be honest for the whole world. We are 51 weeks into an invasion, into a massacre, into a genocide, 51 weeks into hell and yet still, the war continues and in fact it is expanding, so congratulations to everyone that showed up today and we’re going to keep showing up untill Palestine, Lebanon and the entire region is free”
In his acknowledgment to country, Omar brought up its significance “We always acknowledge that, not out of some tokenistic gesture, but because as anti racist, anti imperialist fighters, we have to acknowledge that this country was created through racism and imperialism and that racism and discrimination continues today…So the struggle against racism, genocide and war in the Middle East is a struggle against all those things here in Australia.
One of the rally's speakers was Jorge Jorquera, Victorian Socialist Councillor in the Maribyrnong Council and candidate for the Burndap ward.
Talking about the horrors being inflicted on Palestinians by Israel, Jorge brought up the importance of a movement and solidarity to fight for Palestine.
“But against this we have the strongest of all emotions, the only one that plays a decisive role in making history - solidarity ... .But solidarity is not just an emotion, it starts there with the deepest of empathy. But it’s much more, it’s an understanding that we stand on the common ground, we share the same interests and the same purpose”
Jorge put to the crowd “Solidarity, this is the only reliable litmus test… when those politicians come knocking on your door and they will, promising this and that, ask them, will you join me to fight for Palestine”
In November 2023 Jorge put forward a motion in the Maribyrnong Council, the motion was against Israel’s genocide in Gaza and in support of peace and justice for Palestine. Through his help in leading community pressure on other councillors it passed, making it one of the first pro-Palestinian motions adopted in Australian.
Whether it’s with Palestinians facing genocide, against Israel’s invasion into Lebanon and escalations across the Middle East or with refugees fighting for visas here in Australia, Victorian Socialist will always stand in solidarity with and fight for the oppressed, if you’d like to get involved and help build a people powered movement for all these things and more, go to our volunteer signup or check out our events page for upcoming actions and campaigning.