Pro-Palestinian protesters staged a dramatic demonstration on Thursday, scaling the roof of Australia's Parliament House in Canberra and displaying banners critical of Israel. The incident, which coincided with American Independence Day, raised concerns about security lapses at the parliament building.
According to reports, four individuals affiliated with a pro-Palestinian activist group managed to bypass security and reach the roof. They unfurled banners including "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea."
Local media suggests the breach may have been facilitated by a diversion. While security personnel were occupied with a separate protest by climate and Indigenous rights activists, the pro-Palestinian group gained access to the roof. Protesters reportedly chanted slogans condemning Australian support for the United States and advocating for Aboriginal land rights.
Lawmakers within the parliament were evacuated during the incident. Australian opposition figures have called for a thorough investigation into the security breach, questioning how it occurred despite a significant security upgrade just seven years ago.
