Peace and solidarity activists protest Australia's participation in illegal US-Israeli war on Iran

A rally and march against Australia joining the US-Israeli illegal war on Iran was held in Sydney on Gadigal Country on March 14. In her speech to the protest, NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd said: “Under the war parties [Labor and Coalition], Australia has engineered itself deeper and more inextricably into the American war machine. We’re increasingly compromised and complicit in the war crimes and immorality of the war crimes being waged against innocent civilian populations around the world. “Australia was first out of the gate to endorse Trump’s and Netanyahu’s illegal assault on Iran. “As the atrocities mount, they have only doubled down on their support. Australian weapons, matériels and personnel are directly involved in the war on Iran. “The Albanese government has given up any pretense of supporting international law.” The protest was organised by the Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition and endorsed by the Medical Association for the Prevention of War; City of Sydney for Palestine; Jews Against the Occupation ’48; Stop the War on Palestine; National Tertiary Education; Union Students Against War; Palestine Action Group; Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition, Palestine Justice Movement; Socialist Alliance; Communist Party of Australia; Solidarity; and Red Spark. The protest demanded that the Australian Labor government pull back from its support for Israel and the United States’ illegal strikes on Iran and push for the US and Israel to halt all military action. “The expansion of the war into Lebanon and the Gulf states shows how reckless disregard for international law leads to disaster. “Australia’s support for AUKUS and its hosting of US bases helps fuel war, instead of dialogue and diplomacy… “We call for AUKUS and the Force Posture Agreement (FPA) to be scrapped and demand the Labor government sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Further we call on the government to review the alliance with the US which is the overall framework for AUKUS and the FPA. “An independent and peaceful foreign policy is the best way to be able to help the Iranian people decide on their future government.” Video by Peter Boyle for Green Left.