Greens Leader Credits Local Pro-Palestine Protests for Contributing to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on March 30, 2023. Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Australian Greens Leader Adam Bandt has credited pro-Palestinian protests locally for pushing forward the recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

In a statement released on Jan. 16 in the wake of the surprise agreement prior to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Bandt pushed for further activism until the state of Israel was dismantled.

The Israel-Hamas deal involves the release of hostages and a six week ceasefire, and puts a pause on the 15-month conflict that started with the Oct. 7, 2023 surprise invasion and massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas forces.

“It is a testament to the millions of people who have peacefully protested week-on-week over the past year, including here in Australia, that we’re seeing news of a ceasefire today,” Bandt said.

“Today’s six-week ceasefire deal is an encouraging first step, and will hopefully bring relief to many.

“But we can’t let it stop there. The ceasefire must be permanent and lasting, and the occupation of Palestine must end.”

Bandt made no mention of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 invasion of Israel, only referring to Israel’s “invasion of Gaza.”

“From day one the Greens called for the release of all hostages and for no invasion of Gaza. Sadly, Labor and Liberal backed the invasion of Gaza,” he said.

Bandt said the Greens were calling for a permanent ceasefire involving the dismantling of Israel, as well as a bevy of actions against the Middle East democratic nation, including prohibiting arms trades, sanctioning Israeli MPs, and pushing Australia to support South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

The ceasefire deal will happen in stages, with the first stage involving Israel’s withdrawal from populated parts of Gaza, and the return of some hostages and their remains in exchange for convicted Palestinian criminals held in Israeli prisons.

Locally, businesses and police have previously spoken of their frustration around regular pro-Palestinian rallies which are often held in traffic “choke points” to create the maximum negative economic impact.

The threat of protest activity has also forced event organisers to axe popular events like the annual Myer Christmas window celebrations, and the world men’s ice hockey championship—both events were supposed to be held in Melbourne.

Opposition Cites ‘Lack of Leadership’

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he hoped the news of the ceasefire deal would have a positive impact on Australia’s social cohesion.

“I think it’s the most shocking thing I’ve seen in our country in my lifetime—the treatment of people of a particular religious faith or a particular heritage or background,” Dutton told reporters on Jan. 16.

“It’s unimaginable that we could treat people of Indian heritage or Chinese heritage or Catholics or Protestants or atheists, Buddhists, in the way that Jewish Australians are being treated at the moment.”

Dutton said the nation had suffered from a “lack of leadership” which he said emboldened Hamas.

“I want to see it come to an end, and quickly, because the firebombing of synagogues, the targeting of Jewish women, of people who are involved in society, philanthropic work, it’s completely and utterly unacceptable and it’s not part, should not be part of an Australian culture,” he said.

Some representatives of the Jewish community have credited incoming U.S. President-elect Trump with pushing forward a deal after he repeatedly stated there would be “Hell to pay” if the hostages—including U.S. citizens—were not released ahead of his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, which was also engaged in the Israel-Hamas War, also agreed to a ceasefire in late November just days after Trump’s election victory.