Pro Palestine protesters scale roof of Australia’s Parliament
Pro Palestine protesters climbed the roof of Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra and unfurled banners, one saying Palestine will be free, and accused Israel of war crimes, in a serious security breach condemned by lawmakers, Reuters reports.
Four people dressed in dark clothes stood on the roof of the building for around an hour, unfurling black banners including one reading “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, a common refrain of Pro Palestine protesters.
One of the protesters gave a speech using a megaphone accusing the Israeli government of war crimes, an accusation it rejects.
“We will not forget, we will not forgive and we will continue to resist,” the protester said.
A handful of police and security advised people not to walk directly under the protest at the main entrance to the building, while more were seen on the roof attempting to remove the protesters, a Reuters witness said.
The protesters packed up their banners before being led away by waiting police at around 11:30am local time (0130 GMT).
“This is a serious breach of the Parliament’s security,” opposition Home Affairs spokesperson James Paterson said in a post on social media platform X.
“The building was modified at great expense to prevent incursions like this. An investigation is required.”