Vigil for Gaza in Hobart on Friday 15th August

Vigil for Gaza in Hobart on Friday 15th August

5:00pm-5:45pm

People will gather on the corner of Murray and Macquarie Streets in Hobart at 5pm on Friday 15th August to protest against the attacks on Gaza and to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The vigil will also call for the Australian government to take a strong stance against the bombing and invasion of Gaza and to support the Palestinian people’s rights.

The toll in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,951, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry on August 13. The Palestinian Health ministry spokesman said the number included 469 children, 243 women and 88 elderly people and more than 10,193 Palestinians have been injured. Israeli targets have included homes, mosques, schools, hospitals, medical centres, ambulances and power and water treatment plants. Even a UN-run school was targeted, killing 15 people and injuring hundreds of women and children who had sought refuge.

Protestors will call on the Australian government to condemn Israel’s attack on Gaza and impose diplomatic and trade sanctions on Israel. They will call for support for the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. Protestors will be wearing red, green or black (Palestinian colours) to the vigil.

Socialist Alliance Tasmania has initiated the vigil and spread the word through email and Facebook. Shaine Stephen, spokesperson for Socialist Alliance Tasmania said “We have seen the waves of protest happening in capital cities around Australia against the bombing of Gaza in recent weeks and we thought it was important that Tasmanians also had the opportunity to speak out against these war crimes and show their solidarity for the Palestinian people.” There are more protests in Brisbane on the same evening and in Perth the next day. “We need our government to take a stronger stance on this issue and endorse Palestine’s right to exist free from Israeli oppression”, Stephen said.
Susan Austin