Hundreds of protesters lined the Sydney Marathon route over the presence of Israeli military-linked participants, calling for scrutiny under Australia’s character laws.

Hundreds protested the presence of Israeli military personnel while Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef’s Australia tour was postponed by onerous character checks.

Hundreds of Australians carrying Palestinian flags lined sections of the Sydney Marathon route on Sunday 30 August, protesting against the entry into Australia of a delegation reportedly including current and former Israeli military personnel.

The demonstration followed reports that as many as 40 Israeli soldiers, veterans and military-linked participants had travelled to Sydney as part of a team raising funds for Israeli disability charity Shalva.

Activists gathered along College Street beside Hyde Park, while other groups assembled near Anzac Parade. They called for the Australian government to investigate members of the delegation rather than allowing military service connected to Gaza, the occupied West Bank or Lebanon to pass without public scrutiny.

Protesters chanted “No IDF on our streets” and “IDF to the ICC” as runners passed. Many marathon participants responded with raised fists, peace signs, high-fives and cries of “Free Palestine”.

Judith Treanor of Jews Against the Occupation ’48 described the exchange between demonstrators and runners as unexpectedly uplifting.

“Many runners were draped in Palestinian flags. Others waved them or wore keffiyehs,” she wrote for Michael West Media.

“But it was the sheer number of ordinary runners who showed their solidarity that took us by surprise.”

Journalists and advocacy groups identified delegation members who........

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