Selective Outrage: The Hypocrisy of Anti-Israel Protests in Australia

In recent years, Australia has seen a wave of anti-Israel protests, with activists vocally condemning the Jewish state. While criticism of governments is a cornerstone of democratic discourse, the selective outrage displayed by these protesters reveals troubling inconsistencies.

Why do these demonstrators ignore atrocities committed by regimes like Syria’s, Russia’s, and even Hamas, or the ongoing human rights crises in Africa? This double standard raises questions about whether the protests are motivated by genuine concern for human rights—or by something more sinister, such as antisemitism.

Ignoring Atrocities in Syria and Russia

Syria’s civil war has claimed over 500,000 lives, with Bashar al-Assad’s regime using chemical weapons and indiscriminately targeting civilians. Despite these appalling crimes, large-scale protests against Syria are practically nonexistent in Australia.

Similarly, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. Reports of war crimes, including the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, continue to emerge. Yet, Australian streets are conspicuously silent about these issues.

Instead, protesters focus disproportionately on Israel, the Middle East’s only democracy. Israel is a country that upholds freedoms of speech, press, and religion—values that are glaringly absent in many of its neighbours. This selective targeting undermines the protesters’ credibility and raises uncomfortable questions about their motivations.

Hamas’ Atrocities Against Its Own People

Even within the Israel-Palestine context, these activists ignore the brutal actions of Hamas. As the de facto rulers of Gaza, Hamas has been accused of egregious human rights violations against its own people. These include suppressing dissent, restricting women’s rights, and extrajudicial killings.

Hamas enforces strict Islamic law in Gaza, where being part of the LGBTI community is not only socially condemned but can lead to imprisonment, torture, or even execution. Human rights groups have documented cases of LGBTI individuals being subjected to brutal persecution, including forced “confessions” under torture and honour killings.

Amnesty International has reported cases of torture, arbitrary arrests, and forced disappearances within Gaza by Hamas. Protesters who claim to stand for Palestinian rights remain largely silent about these abuses, focusing their ire solely on Israel.

Africa’s Overlooked Crises

Meanwhile, Africa is home to some of the most devastating human rights crises in the world. In Ethiopia, the Tigray War has resulted in over 500,000 deaths and widespread sexual violence, with millions facing famine. In Sudan, the ongoing conflict between rival military factions has led to mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to suffer from a decades-long conflict marked by war crimes, including the use of child soldiers and systematic sexual violence.

These atrocities dwarf the scale of many conflicts yet fail to attract the attention of Australia’s so-called human rights activists.

The Underlying Double Standard

The glaring omission of these atrocities from the activists’ agendas is deeply troubling. By focusing disproportionately on Israel while ignoring the crimes of regimes like Assad’s, Putin’s, Hamas, and various African warlords, these protesters reveal a disturbing bias.

The Anti-Defamation Commission and other watchdogs have noted a rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia, coinciding with the surge in anti-Israel protests. Jewish communities, already vulnerable, face increasing hostility. This troubling trend underscores the need to call out the selective outrage for what it truly is—a veil for antisemitism.

In conclusion, it’s clear to say that human rights advocacy must be consistent. To selectively target Israel while ignoring atrocities in Syria, Russia, Gaza, and Africa is not only hypocritical but undermines the legitimacy of the protesters’ cause.

If Australians truly care about global justice, they must confront all human rights abuses with equal fervor—not just the ones that align with their distorted antisemitic views.