No, Australian state hasn't banned phrase 'free Palestine, from the river to the sea'

What is the claim?

A video circulating on social media claims that the New South Wales government in Australia has prohibited the use of the phrase "free Palestine, from the river to the sea." In this 2:55-minute viral TikTok video, creator Usama Elshami discusses the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. 

He begins by saying, “The French government is trying to pass a bill that makes criticizing Israel and criticizing Zionism illegal. Similar things are trying to be passed in America, and the New South Wales government in Australia passed a bill saying that you can’t say 'free Palestine, from the river to the sea.'" Elshami then expresses his discontent and urges people to be aware of freedom of speech issues.

The video has been widely shared on Facebook and Instagram, with one Facebook post garnering over 14,000 likes and 10,000 shares. Archived versions of the post can be accessed here and here.

Screenshots of the posts viral on Facebook. (Source: Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

The slogan "free Palestine, from the river to the sea" refers to the territory between the Jordan River, bordering eastern Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea. This phrase, linked to the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict, is perceived as both pro-Palestinian and anti-Semitic, advocating for a Palestinian state spanning from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

However, contrary to Elshami's claim, the New South Wales government has not enacted legislation banning this phrase.

What we found

We scrutinized the current bills of the New South Wales Parliament and found no evidence of legislation banning the phrase "free Palestine, from the river to the sea." This conflict between Israel and Palestine, which intensified on October 7, 2023, has not led to the passing of such a bill in the parliament.

Additionally, no credible reports confirm the passage of such a bill in the New South Wales Parliament.

However, on October 18, during the first session of the 58th Parliament, Liberal MP Chris Rath introduced a private member's motion denouncing the use of "free Palestine, from the river to the sea" at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney on October 15. This motion also condemns antisemitism and supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

The private members’ motion condemning the phrase. (Source: Parliament of New South Wales)

Thousands of Australians participated in pro-Palestine rallies in Sydney on October 15, where attendees chanted pro-Palestinian slogans, as reported by Reuters. Rath's motion appears to address these events.

A spokesperson for the NSW Parliament confirmed that no bill banning the phrase had been passed. Logically Facts also contacted the New South Wales Parliament for a statement, and this story will be updated with their response.

Elshami's video also claims that the French and U.S. governments seek to criminalize Zionism and anti-Israeli sentiments. Indeed, 16 French senators from the Republican (LR) party had proposed a bill on October 10 penalizing anti-Zionism, but it was not initiated by the ruling Renaissance party or President Emmanuel Macron.

Similarly, the U.S. House of Republicans passed a resolution denouncing antisemitism and anti-Zionism, but no bills have been introduced or passed to criminalize these sentiments in the United States.

The slogan's impact and international responses

The slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” has been prominent during protests amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This chant has been used in cities like London and Sydney. Despite the inaccuracies in the viral video, several governments have taken a stance against this slogan.

According to reports by Al Jazeera and Washington Post, Austrian police banned a pro-Palestine protest over the chant, Berlin’s government reportedly criminalized it, the U.K. Labour Party suspended MP Andy McDonald for using it, and former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman cautioned that the slogan could be interpreted as advocating for Israel's elimination.

The verdict

The New South Wales Parliament has not passed a bill banning the phrase "free Palestine, from the river to the sea." The condemnation of the phrase by an MP in a legislative council does not equate to a ban. Therefore, we categorize this claim as false.