A candlelight vigil was held outside the office of Lalor MP Joanne Ryan in Werribee on Friday evening to highlight the 13,000 children killed in the conflict in Gaza.
Members of Wyndham for Palestine (WFP) and Wyndham Palestine Action Group (WPAG) joined forces for the peak hour protest outside Ms Ryan’s Watton Street office.
Holding images of some of the many Palestinian killed during Israel’s military operation in Gaza, demonstrators appealed to motorists and pedestrians travelling past to show solidarity for their cause.
They also demanded the federal government end military exports to Israel as recommended by a recent ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel must take measures to avoid committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
Instead they want Australia to join the likes of Colombia, Ireland, South Africa, and Turkey in taking action against the Netanyahu government for its continued bombardment of Gaza.
Launched in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks where Hamas militants killed more than a thousand Israeli civilians, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has since killed more than 30,000 Palestinians.
“After seven months of a livestreamed genocide, we understand perfectly that politicians are not listening and have let us down. We will hold them to account for their complicity,” said Wyndham for Palestine co-organiser Fatima Measham.
“We are instead placing our faith in people to create the change necessary for a future of freedom and dignity for children in Palestine. If kids are precious here in Wyndham, then they have to be precious everywhere. We are ultimately fighting for a world where their lives mean something.”
In December Wyndham council passed a motion of solidarity with Palestine after a campaign from local protest groups.
Wyndham Palestine Action Group co-organiser Mahad Ali said thousands more children had been killed in the months since.
“The purpose of this vigil was to remember the innocent children who are the victims of this genocide and to honour their memory. Every name on the long list of names is a child deprived of the opportunity to live, to thrive, to grow,” he said.
“Our demand from our elected representatives like Joanne Ryan is to stop Australia’s complicity in this genocide and to end all weapons exports to Israel as per the ICJ ruling. We call on the local community to support our movement and help uphold justice and human rights.”
Joanne Ryan’s office was contacted for comment.
Cade Lucas
