Pro-Palestinian vigils in Australia on October 7 anniversary draw criticism from NSW leaders
Pro-Palestinian groups held vigils in Melbourne, Sydney and Wollongong on the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks. NSW's premier and opposition leader condemned the timing, while Muslim groups used the day to call for sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1Pro-Palestinian groups were criticised by New South Wales political leaders for holding vigils on Wednesday 7 October, the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel in which more than 1,200 people were killed. ABC News (Australia)LC “Pro-Palestinian organisations have been criticised for planning vigils for the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Left · 1Jewish organisations across Australia planned their own commemorations for those killed in the attack, while Jews Against the Occupation 48 was to hold a vigil in Sydney and Wollongong Friends of Palestine was to gather in Wollongong. ABC News (Australia)LC “Jewish organisations across the country will hold commemorations on Wednesday for those lost in the terrorist attack.”“Wollongong Friends of Palestine will gather "to stop and remember the martyrs and all those who suffer and continue to resist".” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Left · 1The Sydney organisers are using the slogan "Don't let Israel steal the date" and say October 7 also marks three years since Israeli air strikes on Gaza began in response to the attack. ABC News (Australia)LC “The organisers of the Sydney vigil are using the slogan "Don't let Israel steal the date" and said October 7 was also three years since air strikes began on Gaza in response to the attack.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗
Left · 1NSW Premier Chris Minns called the events "heartless" and "in poor taste", said he believed the date was chosen to attract attention, and said he feared the vigil would not be as peaceful as organisers hope. ABC News (Australia)LC “NSW Premier Chris Minns has condemned the pro-Palestine events being held on that day, labelling them "heartless" and "in poor taste".” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Left · 1Minns acknowledged the events are not against the law and cannot be stopped under the constitution, said NSW Police would "keep the public safe", and asked Labor colleagues not to attend, though he said he could not speak for all of them. ABC News (Australia)LC “"There are some people suggesting it can be stopped, the constitution doesn't allow that," he said.”“He also asked his Labor colleagues not to attend.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Left · 1NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane called the vigils "entirely sickening and reprehensible", urged organisers to "pick any other date", asked the premier to explain how they would be managed, and demanded he order Labor MPs to stay away. She also said people distressed by events in Gaza should be able to protest. ABC News (Australia)LC “NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane told 702 ABC Sydney she found "the whole thing entirely sickening and reprehensible".”“She also demanded Mr Minns order Labor MPs to stay away from the planned events.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗
Left · 1Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin called October 7 a "solemn day" for Jewish and Israeli communities and asked organisers to "leave that day alone". He linked the date to a new era of antisemitism, citing the Bondi Beach massacre in December last year. ABC News (Australia)LC “Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said October 7 was a "solemn day" for Jewish and Israeli communities.”“especially in light of the Bondi Beach massacre in December last year, October 7 this year would also be remembered as an event that ushered in a new era of antisemitism.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Centre · 1In Melbourne, about 70 activists gathered outside the State Library of Victoria for a day-long vigil due to run until 6 pm local time, according to the Herald Sun as relayed by Anadolu Agency. Palestinian flags were displayed, along with a cutout of Benjamin Netanyahu holding a sign reading "Genocide Criminal". Anadolu AgencyN “About 70 activists gathered outside the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne for a day-long vigil, the Melbourne-based Herald Sun reported.”“A cutout depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding a sign reading “Genocide Criminal” was also displayed.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1The Herald Sun reported brief verbal confrontations in Melbourne, with organisers urging demonstrators not to engage, and extra police were deployed after counter-protesters arrived. Anadolu AgencyN “The Herald Sun reported brief verbal confrontations during the gathering, with organizers urging demonstrators not to engage. Additional police officers were deployed after counter-protesters arrived.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1A separate vigil was scheduled for Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday evening and another in Wollongong, with further pro-Palestinian rallies planned across Australia on Sunday. Anadolu AgencyN “In Sydney, a separate pro-Palestinian vigil was scheduled at Town Hall on Wednesday evening, while another gathering was planned in Wollongong”“Further pro-Palestinian rallies are scheduled across Australia on Sunday.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1The Alliance of Australian Muslims and the Australian National Imams Council urged Canberra to impose "meaningful sanctions" and "a comprehensive two-way arms embargo" on Israel, and called for unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. They said Australia's recognition of Palestine in September 2025 should be followed by concrete action. Anadolu AgencyN “The groups called on the Australian government to impose “meaningful sanctions” on Israel and “a comprehensive two-way arms embargo””“The Muslim groups said Australia’s recognition of the State of Palestine in September 2025 was an important step” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu noted that Australia says it does not directly supply weapons or ammunition to Israel, though more than 70 Australian companies contribute components to the F-35 supply chain. It cited Palestinian figures of more than 74,200 killed in Gaza since October 2023. Anadolu AgencyN “The Australian government, however, maintains that it does not directly supply weapons or ammunition to Israel.”“Israel's genocide in Gaza has killed more than 74,200 Palestinians and injured over 175,200 others, according to Palestinian figures.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Led with the political backlash: NSW's premier, opposition leader and a Jewish community leader condemning the timing of pro-Palestinian vigils on the anniversary of the Hamas attacks.
- Emphasis
- Quotes from Minns, Sloane and Ryvchin, public safety, and whether Labor MPs should attend. Organisers' reasoning gets a brief mention.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Says little about the vigil organisers' demands or the situation in Gaza; no turnout figures or on-the-day events.
- Charged language
- “Heartless”“sickening and reprehensible”“obnoxious protest”
- For example
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“NSW Premier Chris Minns has condemned the pro-Palestine events being held on that day, labelling them "heartless" and "in poor taste".” — ABC News (Australia)
“Choose any other day in the calendar and carry on your obnoxious protest and divide society as you do.” — ABC News (Australia)
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the vigils as a demonstration for Palestinians killed in Gaza, tied to calls for sanctions and a two-way arms embargo on Israel.
- Emphasis
- On-the-ground detail from Melbourne, Muslim groups' demands, and Australia–Israel defence ties.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the NSW political criticism or the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 that the anniversary commemorates.
- Charged language
- “Genocide Criminal”“Israel's genocide in Gaza”
- For example
-
“as Muslim groups called on Canberra to impose sanctions and a two-way arms embargo on Israel.” — Anadolu Agency
“Since October 2023, Israel's genocide in Gaza has killed more than 74,200 Palestinians and injured over 175,200 others, according to Palestinian figures.” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Pro-Palestinian vigils were held or planned in Melbourne, Sydney and Wollongong on or around the third anniversary of October 7, 2023.
- A Sydney vigil and a Wollongong gathering were scheduled for Wednesday.
- Police were involved in managing the events.
Where accounts differ
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What the anniversary date marks and how the vigils are characterised
- Left
- ABC reports NSW leaders calling the vigils "heartless", "sickening and reprehensible" and ill-timed on a day of mourning for the 1,200 killed by Hamas; organisers say the date also marks the start of Israeli air strikes.
- Centre
- Anadolu treats the vigils as mourning for Palestinians killed in Gaza and dates the anniversary of the war to Oct. 8, 2023. It does not mention the criticism or the Hamas attacks, and calls Israel's actions a "genocide" in its own voice.
Pro-Palestinian protests topic
Organisers say the vigils mourn Palestinians and mark the day Israeli air strikes began, under the slogan "Don't let Israel steal the date". Muslim groups use the occasion to demand sanctions and an arms embargo.
“The organisers of the Sydney vigil are using the slogan "Don't let Israel steal the date"” — ABC News (Australia)
“with organizers calling on participants to peacefully mourn Palestinians killed in Gaza.” — Anadolu Agency
Oceania1 outlet
The Australian outlet covers the domestic political row over the date and public safety.
“Police will do what they always do and that is keep the public safe.” — ABC News (Australia)
ABC News (Australia)
Middle East1 outlet
The Turkey-based agency covers the vigils as part of a global Palestinian cause and Australian arms policy.
“The groups called on the Australian government to impose “meaningful sanctions” on Israel” — Anadolu Agency
Anadolu Agency
Left1 article
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'Heartless': Pro-Palestinian groups criticised for October 7 vigils
Critical Foregrounds condemnation of the vigils by NSW political leaders and a Jewish community leader, with organisers' rationale in a short passage.
Centre1 article
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Pro-Palestinian vigils held across Australia amid demand of arms embargo on Israel
Sympathetic Presents the vigils as peaceful mourning and advocacy for an arms embargo, using the term genocide in its own voice and omitting the domestic criticism.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 6 Oct 03:08 First ABC News (Australia)LC 'Heartless': Pro-Palestinian groups criticised for October 7 vigils
- 7 Oct 09:45 +30h 36m Anadolu AgencyN Pro-Palestinian vigils held across Australia amid demand of arms embargo on Israel
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.