Photo: 1 of 2 billboards, located 532 Flinders St Townsville, Queensland.
On Monday 9 June 2025, a group of passionate individuals unveiled two high-visibility billboards in Townsville’s city centre in a striking act of visual activism.
A group known as Free Palestine Townsville had been working tirelessly to raise funds for this initiative. On Saturday, 7 June, they reached their target of $5,000, enabling the launch of both billboards just two days later.
Situated in the heart of Townsville, the billboards deliver a vital message—not only to local residents but to the entire nation. They raise urgent awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and genocide in Gaza.
The billboards feature a powerful and symbolic design: a large, broken watermelon—a symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance—with two children carefully placing its scattered seeds back together.
The image depicts Gaza’s children attempting to rebuild their homes, once filled with laughter and memories, now reduced to rubble by Israeli rockets.
Above this, the bold message “DON’T LOOK THE OTHER WAY” urges the people of Townsville and beyond not to turn a blind eye towards the atrocities occurring in Gaza.
According to the International Food Security Phase Classification, over 1.1 million people in Gaza face imminent and catastrophic levels of starvation. For over three months, Gazans have been denied access to food and aid essential for survival.
The Israeli government has imposed a siege on Gaza, heavily restricting the flow of food and humanitarian aid.
In a further attempt to block vital supplies, Israeli forces recently abducted the Freedom Flotilla, which was carrying rice and baby formula for starving babies and civilians.
This billboard campaign comes at a time of great uncertainty surrounding Gaza’s catastrophic humanitarian situation.
The initiative has already sparked widespread public conversation across social media, with many locals sharing photos of the displays and expressing solidarity.
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