Julian Assange’s father has led a rally in support of Palestinians, while Australians in Lebanon are being advised to return home immediately over fears the conflict between Hamas and Israel could spread across the Middle East.
“Many familiar faces fought successfully for Julian’s freedom… The next job may be a little bit harder,” John Shipton told a passionate crowd on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
The banner behind Mr. Shitpton read: “Stop the genocide.”
In June, Mr Assange was allowed to return to Australia a free man after fighting extradition to the United States over the publication of official secrets on Wikileaks.
Her father’s appearance at the protest follows a Wednesday night news conference by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong that told Australians in Lebanon to leave while they still could.
There are concerns that the country’s security could deteriorate rapidly “with little or no warning.” The Smart Traveller website states:
The US military confirmed on Friday that it will deploy additional fighter jets and warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to bolster its defences in the wake of new threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.
Australians were first told not to travel to Lebanon in October, just weeks after Hamas attacked Israel.
John Shipton, the father of freed activist Julian Assange, spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally on Saturday
Mr Shipton said the fight for besieged Palestinians would mirror the fight to free his son.
Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organisation by the government, launched an attack on October 7 that killed 1,200 people and led to the taking of more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel then launched a bombing campaign and a ground offensive in Gaza that has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to the local Ministry of Health.
Concern that the conflict could spread further across the Middle East has grown since Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran and top Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur was killed in Beirut earlier this week.
Iran threatened to retaliate after the attack on its territory, prompting the United States to keep an aircraft carrier in the region and move a squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East.
US President Joe Biden has said he is “very concerned” that violence could escalate.
Iran and Hamas accused Israel of killing Haniyeh, but Israel has not claimed responsibility.
The family of an Australian aid worker killed in an Israeli airstrike called for a criminal investigation on Friday after a government report blamed the attack on serious errors and concluded it was “not deliberately targeted.”
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange kisses his wife Stella Assange upon arrival in Canberra, Australia, June 26, 2024
Assange raised his fist in the air as he waved to the crowd at Canberra airport.
In April, the Israel Defense Forces launched attacks that killed Australian Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen workers as they delivered food in Gaza.
The report by former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin found serious flaws, exacerbated by confirmation bias, that led Israel to launch the attack.
A family spokesman pressed for further investigation.