'Peace plan designed to appease unhappy world' - Protesters march in Sydney CBD, doubt Gaza ceasefire

'Peace plan designed to appease unhappy world' - Protesters march in Sydney CBD, doubt Gaza ceasefire

"Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Sydney's Central Business District on Saturday, voicing scepticism and anger over the recently proposed Gaza peace plan calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire for Palestine. Footage shows protesters carrying Palestinian flags and placards condemning Australian leaders, including one reading 'Gutless' for Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and another reading 'Shame on the lackey country, shame Albo.' One of the protesters expressed doubt about the peace proposal's sincerity, saying, "I’d love to have a ceasefire, but I have very little faith this plan will amount to that […] It seems to me like, at this point in time, it's probably more just trying to appease the unhappy world. It feels more like smoke and mirrors and political theatre than actual substantive change," he said. Another demonstrator said that the ceasefire should have come long ago, arguing that different policies prevent genuine peace. "Ceasefire is okay, but Israel never gets peace with the Palestinian people […] Palestinians want peace, but Israel doesn’t recognise them," he said. The protest follows the Gaza ceasefire, which went into force on Friday as Israeli forces started withdrawing from parts of Gaza. On September 29, Trump unveiled his 20-point Gaza plan alongside Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan itself would see an immediate end to fighting, with the release of all hostages alive or dead within 72 hours, as well as 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans who were detained after October 7. Hamas conditionally accepted the US-brokered plan, offering to release Israeli captives through Qatari and Egyptian mediators if Israel agrees to a lasting peace and full withdrawal. Trump welcomed the response, describing it as a 'very special' moment and 'unprecedented in many ways'."