Media Release: Adam Bandt to address Palestine rally on genocide ruling, UNRWA cut

1 February 2024 – for immediate release

Greens leader Adam Bandt will address Melbourne’s fifteenth Palestine rally in four months at 12pm on Sunday, 4th February, on the steps of the State Library of Victoria.

This will be the first Free Palestine Melbourne rally since the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent a genocide in Gaza, and the Australian government cut off aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

“The implications of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark ruling are clear: the invasion of Gaza must stop, the occupation of Palestine must end and the serious risk of genocide must be prevented,” Adam Bandt said last month.

“Labor still refuses to condemn Israel’s invasion & bombing of the people of Gaza, but did not blink when they followed the US in suspending critical UNRWA aid funding for the millions of starving people in Gaza,” Bandt tweeted on Monday, as he called on the government to reinstate the funding. 

Despite forecasts of hot weather, organisers are confident of a large turnout.

“The delegitimisation and defunding of UNRWA have been strategic priorities for Israel for years,” said Muayad Ali of Free Palestine Melbourne. “For the government to cut funding to it at a time of mass starvation makes Australia complicit in the Gaza genocide. We are sure that Adam Bandt will be warmly received for his principled stand on Sunday.”

For more information contact: info@fpmelbourne.org