Palestine supporters have marched, picketed and hosted events over the past two years to call for an end to the conflict in Gaza. Photo: River McCrossen.
Wollongong activists have shared their plan to march across the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge in Coalcliff on Sunday 7 December as part of a nationwide day of protest for Palestine.
Wollongong Friends of Palestine have called the action and say the rally will gather at 1 pm in Leeder Park in Coalcliff, march across the bridge, and end at Rube Hargrave Park.
The protest is intended to highlight continued air strikes on Gaza, despite a ceasefire being put in place more than a month ago.
Between the beginning of the ceasefire on 10 October and 30 October more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
An Israeli solider was also killed in the same period.
Rally organisers are calling for the Australian Government to enact sanctions upon Israel.
Illawarra resident and Palestinian woman Safaa Rayan said the protest was a powerful call to the community, not just the government.
“I have lost more family members in the past two years than most people do in a lifetime,” she said.
“It eases that grief and trauma to know there are people in my community who want to see the killing and starvation stop, and who will fight hard to make that happen.
“Every single rally has been meaningful and hopeful.
“December 7 is a call for all people who stand for justice to come out and show our government we care about people on the other side of the planet.
“Then maybe we can get some real action.”
Safaa said she would like to see sanctions on any trade in arms or parts between Australia and Israel, and to see diplomatic ties with Israel severed while their head of state, Benjamin Netanyahu, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Organisers are also calling on all Illawarra businesses and organisations to cut economic ties with the Israeli Defence Force.
One of the organisers, Jet Hunt, said the bridge march was part of an ongoing campaign in the Illawarra.
“This march will be historic,” they said.
“Over the past two years people living on Dharawal and Yuin Country have marched, occupied and picketed for Palestine.
“We have taken on the struggle for a liberated Palestine as our own.
“This march across the Sea Cliff Bridge is a symbol of this — the Illawarra stands will Palestine, from the river to the sea.”
The Illawarra has seen dozens of protests since the war in Gaza began.
Local steel manufacturer Bisalloy has been a regular target for picketers, who fear Illawarra steel is being used in tanks and other vehicles deployed in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force.
