Pro-Palestine protests LIVE: Demonstrations to rock Sydney and Melbourne as activists mark October 7 anniversary

Barnaby Joyce has criticized those taking part in pro-Palestinian rallies, claiming that many are protesting just for the sake of it.

His comments came following the first anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel, with Australia seeing a series of protests across the country on Monday.

Speaking to Sunrise host Nat Barr, the Nationals MP said it was ‘ridiculous’ that certain groups were taking part in the rallies.

“Like, you know, people in the gay community who say they support issues in Palestine or support Hamas: Do they understand exactly what’s happening to people in the gay community under Hamas?” Mr Joyce said on the breakfast show.

‘Do they understand exactly what they are doing? And that’s why you ask the question: what’s really behind this?’

Same-sex relationships are banned in Gaza

‘Understanding for the Palestinian situation, real empathy. I’m absolutely sure there are people out there who have. Not a trace of doubt. I did not allow for a second that they did this on a day of this carnage inflicted by a terrorist group musk,” Mr Joyce continued.

“But there are a lot more people in there who are hanging in there, and for them it’s completely despicable.”

Anthony Albanese has vowed to Jewish Australians never to let history repeat itself as the country marks the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

In a video statement, the Prime Minister reflected on the date, calling it “a day that brings terrible pain.”

“On the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, we take a moment to reflect on the horrific terrorist atrocities that reverberated around the world,” Albanese said.

“We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ actions on that day.

“Innocent lives taken at a music festival, women, men and children murdered in their homes, cruelty applied with cold calculation.”

He said anti-Semitism has haunted the Jewish community over the past year.

“Since the atrocities of October 7, Jewish Australians have felt the cold shadows of anti-Semitism that reach to this day and as a nation we say: never again,” Albanese said.

“We unequivocally condemn all prejudice and hatred. There is no place in Australia for discrimination against people of any faith.”

Vigils are being held across Australia as people mourn the victims of the greatest loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust.

Peter Dutton said the date marked a “day of depravity” in a social media post, warning that Hamas’ attacks were “awakening and exposing an anti-Semitic rot plaguing Western democracies.”

“Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people against existential threats,” the opposition leader said.

He said the coalition stood with Israel “rather than treating it as an adversary,” in a thinly veiled shot at the Albanian government, which has maintained calls for a ceasefire.

“We stand with Australians of Jewish faith – because you are beloved Australian citizens,” Dutton said.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said police would attend the vigil at Sydney Town Hall and a rally at the Lakemba Mosque on Monday, and was concerned the protests could turn into something bigger.

“We can’t rule that out – we would always be concerned that there would be intruders, and that people would come in for the wrong reason,” she said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns spoke out against the planned demonstrations on Monday.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate, that’s my personal opinion,” he said.

“To hold a protest or rally on a day when people on the other side of the world have been slaughtered is, in my opinion, completely insensitive.”

Mr Minns also said police would act on any defamation of the Jewish community.

“We cannot allow a situation where tolerant anti-Semitism creeps into the public dialogue because some group in our community believes that kind of racism is okay. It’s not okay,” he said.

“I want to make it clear that if there are any violations of protests, public sermons and speeches this weekend, they will be met with very strict laws in Australia and in NSW regarding hate speech.”

It is illegal in Australia to display symbols associated with a terrorist organization or to display Nazi symbols such as the swastika.

Palestinian gatherings are under increasing scrutiny after flags of the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah and framed photos of slain leader Hassan Nasrallah appeared at gatherings last weekend.