Hundreds Protest Israeli Soldiers at Sydney Marathon
Anushe Engineer, Soraya Lennie
Hundreds of protesters lined the Sydney Marathon route on Sunday to oppose the participation of 40 Israeli soldiers, some accused of involvement in human rights violations in Gaza. The demonstration featured Palestinian flags and calls for Australia to investigate the soldiers' visas.
Hundreds of protesters gathered along the route of the Sydney Marathon on Sunday to demonstrate against the participation of Israeli soldiers in the prestigious event. Pro-Palestinian supporters waved flags and chanted slogans, demanding the Australian government explain the soldiers' presence.
According to human rights organizations, the Israeli delegation included 40 soldiers, some of whom are believed to have been involved in controversial military operations in Gaza. Many organizations voiced opposition online in the week leading up to the race.
At the scene, protesters waved Palestinian flags, wore keffiyeh scarves, and displayed watermelon symbols—a traditional emblem of Palestinian identity and resistance. Posters calling for the exclusion of war criminals from the event and urging Australia to “cut ties with racist Israel” were also held aloft.
Al Jazeera confirmed that at least one Israeli soldier participated and completed the race. The Israeli marathon team included members of the Golani Brigade and the Israeli military's 8200 signal intelligence unit.
A member of the UN Commission of Inquiry, which concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, described Golani as one of the most “heavily accused” brigades in the Israeli military. One marathon participant, Roy Oryon, was a former deputy company commander in the brigade's 13th Battalion, which fought in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Australian Home Affairs Department's decision to grant visas to these soldiers has drawn widespread criticism. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement stated: “The Australian government has a legal obligation to act. Every country has a duty to investigate and prosecute those suspected of committing genocide.”
Al Jazeera contacted the Australian Home Affairs Department to ask whether these individuals had undergone special security checks, under Direction 110 of the Migration Act, which allows a person to be denied a visa if they are suspected of involvement in genocide or war crimes. A department spokesperson declined to comment on specific cases for “privacy reasons,” but asserted that all visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis according to legal criteria, including health, character, and security.
The incident came just days after the Israeli military refused to conduct a criminal investigation into the killing of Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom. The 43-year-old aid worker, along with six colleagues, died in a drone strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza in April 2024.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has called for an “urgent examination” of the Israeli participants. The organization argued that Australia cannot claim to uphold international law while potentially allowing individuals suspected of serious international crimes into the country without proper investigation.
