Pro-Palestine protests LIVE: Demonstrations to rock Sydney and Melbourne as activists mark October 7 anniversary

Barnaby Joyce has criticized those who participate in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, stating that many are protesting simply for the sake of doing so.

His comments came on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel, and on Monday Australia will see a series of protests across the country.

Speaking to Sunrise presenter Nat Barr, the Nationals MP said it was “ridiculous” that certain groups were taking part in the protests.

“For example, do people in the gay community who say they support the issues of Palestine or support Hamas understand exactly what happens to people in the gay community under Hamas?” Mr Joyce said on the breakfast programme.

‘Do they understand exactly what they are doing? And therefore, you raise the question: what is really behind this?

Same-sex relationships are prohibited in Gaza

‘An understanding of the Palestinian situation, a real empathy. I’m absolutely sure there are people with that. There is no room for doubt. “Not for a second did I forgive them doing it on one day of this massacre that was inflicted by a Musk terrorist group,” Mr Joyce continued.

“But there are a lot of other people there who are parasites, and to them that is completely despicable.”

Anthony Albanese has promised Australian Jews they will never let history repeat itself as the country marks the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.

In a video statement, the Prime Minister reflected on the date, calling it “a day that carries terrible pain.”

“On the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, we pause to reflect on the horrific terrorist atrocity that resonated around the world,” Mr Albanese said.

‘We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ actions that day.

“Innocent lives murdered at a music festival, women, men and children murdered in their homes, brutality inflicted with cold calculation.”

He said anti-Semitism had dogged the Jewish community over the past year.

“Since the atrocities of October 7, Australian Jews have felt the cold shadows of anti-Semitism to this day and, as a nation, we say, never again,” Mr Albanese said.

‘We unequivocally condemn all prejudices and hatred. In Australia there is no place for discrimination against people of any religion.’

Vigils have been held across Australia as people mourn those killed in the worst loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.

Peter Dutton said in a social media post that the date marked a “day of depravity,” warning that the Hamas attacks “awakened and exposed an anti-Semitic rot that afflicts Western democracies.”

“Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people from existential threats,” said the opposition leader.

He said the Coalition supported Israel “rather than treating it as an adversary,” in a thinly veiled attack on the Albanian government, which has maintained its calls for a ceasefire.

“We support Australians of the Jewish faith, because you are beloved Australian citizens,” Mr Dutton said.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said police would attend the vigil at Sydney Town Hall and a rally at Lakemba Mosque on Monday, and expressed concern the protests could turn into something more. big.

“We can’t rule that out; we would always be concerned about intruders and people coming in for the wrong reason,” he said.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns spoke out against protests planned for Monday.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate, that’s my personal opinion,” he said.

“To organize a protest or a demonstration on a day when people were massacred on the other side of the world is, in my opinion, tremendously insensitive.”

Minns also said police would act on any defamation of the Jewish community.

‘We cannot allow a situation where permissive anti-Semitism creeps into public dialogue because a certain group in our community believes that type of racism is okay. It’s not right,’ he said.

“I want to be clear that if there is any infringement in the protests, public sermons or speeches this weekend, they will be met with very strict laws in Australia and New South Wales regarding hate speech.”

In Australia it is illegal to display symbols related to a terrorist organization or display Nazi symbols such as the swastika.

Palestinian protests are facing increased scrutiny after flags of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah and framed photographs of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah began appearing at demonstrations last weekend.