Protesters scale roof of Australia’s parliament to unfurl pro-Palestine banners

Protesters have climbed the roof of Australia’s parliament house in Canberra to chant slogans against Israel and its Western backers.

They stood on the roof for around an hour on Thursday, unfurling black banners including one which read, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

One protester gave a speech using a megaphone accusing the Israeli regime of war crimes in the besieged Gaza Strip with the support of the United States. The speaker also accused the Australian government of complicity.

“We declare to the Australian government we will continue to unmask and resist the US imperial, hegemonic and capitalist interests you devote yourself to,” the protester yelled.

“Australia continues to enable and commit war crimes as lackeys to our ‘great and powerful’ friends,” he said.

“We will not forget, we will not forgive and we will continue to resist.”

The protesters packed up the banners before being led away by police at about 11:30 am local time.

Since Israel’s barbarous campaign began in early October, Australia has been the site of several pro-Palestine demonstrations, including weekly gatherings in major cities.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government is facing divisions. The government has suspended a Muslim senator who crossed the floor to vote in favor of Australia recognizing a Palestinian state.

Labor indefinitely suspended Fatima Payman on July 1 after she voted in favor of a parliamentary motion backing Palestinian statehood.

Payman said she had been “exiled” after supporting the motion – put forward by the Greens party.

Senator quits ruling party

On Thursday, Payman quit the ruling party. “When history looks back, it must be seen that we stood on the side of humanity, even when it was difficult,” she said in a statement.

Some 145 nations recognize Palestine as an independent state, with several European nations joining the growing number of UN member states amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.

Payman said she had lost “all contact with her caucus colleagues”.

Stressing that she does not believe her principles “align with those of the leadership of the Labor Party”, Payman added: “I announce my resignation from the Australian Labour Party.”

Payman will now sit as an independent, requiring the government to secure an extra vote in the senate to pass legislation if it is not backed by the opposition.

“The ongoing genocide in Gaza is a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. It is a crisis that pierces the heart and soul, calling us to action with a sense of urgency and moral clarity,” she said.

“Witnessing our government’s indifference to the greatest injustice of our times makes me question the direction the Party is taking.”

Payman told ABC News that she experienced “intimidation … on many fronts”.

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