Sydney student protests ramp up as Israel prepares to invade Rafah

by RAQUEL BLANKEVOORT

Student strikes and protests have been ramping up as Israel prepares for an imminent military invasion into the southwest city of Rafah in Gaza. Activist groups have kickstarted protests as the community voices their support to end the genocide in Gaza.

On Thursday afternoon, May 9, students marched from the University of Sydney’s (USyd) Quadrangle lawn, flags in hand, to the front of the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) central building.

Activist groups included Students Against War, Families for Palestinians, and Palestine Action Group Sydney.

As they chanted “UTS we know what side you’re on. Remember South Africa, Remember Vietnam,” droves of students joined the protest demanding their respective universities to cut ties with Israeli institutions.

“I think that what we’re seeing right now is a really awesome mobilisation against the genocide that’s raging in Gaza that has been raging for the last seven months,” said Shovan Bharrarai, an activist for Students for Palestine, to City Hub. 

“We’re out here demonstrating not only against the insane cruelty, indiscriminate bombing being meted out against millions of people in Gaza right now, but also to protest against our own universities’ complicity in this genocide.”

“I think that young people, all at this rally, the high school students and university students who’ve walked out of class to come and protest today are standing on the right side of history,” she continued.

Protests like the one at UTS are not new, with Families For Palestine gathering and protesting outside of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office in Marrickville every Thursday since the 16th of November 2023. The 24-hour sit-ins have been ongoing since February, with the aim to pressure the Albanese Government to initiate an immediate ceasefire, call for an end to the occupation, and end all ties with Israel.

Albanese’s office has since been abandoned by his staff, with signs calling for a free Palestine decorating the outside walls of the office.

Protests similar to the one in Sydney have been occurring globally with some of the major student protests happening in the United States, as well as across Europe, including Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris. Police have become more involved,  arresting students as tensions rise.

In Sydney, students, staff, and community members have continued to encourage and organise protests throughout the week.

On Friday May 10, a protest organised by Palestine Action Group will go ahead at Sydney Town Hall, as well as ongoing protests on Sunday afternoons.