Gig for Gaza event in Canberra raises funds for Australian doctors working in Palestine

Liam O’Connell was among the Canberra artists who volunteered to perform at the Gig for Gaza charity music event.  (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)

A week after Israel freed four hostages in a military operation that killed an estimated 210 Palestinians, more than 100 Canberrans have gathered for a charity music event to raise funds for Australian doctors working in Palestine.

A diverse selection of Canberra musicians and bands volunteered to take part in the event held at the Polish White Eagle Club in the inner-north suburb of Turner.

The venue, Live at the Polo, donated the use of the space as well as the time of their sound engineer.

Attendees were encouraged to buy tickets on a "pay what you can" basis with more than $7,000 raised for the charity Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA) by the time the event began.

The event was a sell-out, with 200 tickets sold.

The Gig for Gaza was organised by two Jewish mates, who said it was their faith that inspired them to act.

"It's really hard not to look at the immense loss of civilian human life and the suffering over there and not feel terribly," organiser and Canberra musician David Abkiewicz said.

The practising Jew said he wanted people to understand and see there was a diversity of views in the Jewish community.

"I think the issue is that any criticism of Israel is characterised in bad faith as anti-Semitism," Mr Abkiewicz said.

"I'm not saying anti-Semitism doesn't exist, but it's a pretty obvious project to make the two the same in the minds of a lot people."

Fellow organiser Zev Aviv said while they were "not a particularly religious" Jew, their faith nonetheless inspired them to act.

"The Judaism I was raised with was really justice-focused and really community focused," Mx Aviv explained.

"It feels like I'm religiously compelled to be involved. It's like a holy act and a holy duty."

Mx Aviv took issue with what they saw as the conflation of Israel with Judaism, as they had not been raised Zionist.

"Zionism is such a young thing and Israel is such a young thing and for Israel to co-opt this sense of being a Jew or what a Jew is or what we should do, it's quite offensive and it erases history," they said.

Different form of activism

Mx Aviv said they had been involved in various protest actions and the concert offered a different way for people to engage in activism.

"This isn't an official protest, but it does have a lot of elements of one, which is people gathering and focusing on a single issue," they explained.

"We're hoping that people aren't feeling as overwhelmed and distressed … and are able to just enjoy company and kind of refuel.

"It's more of a moment for the community to gather".

Mr Abkiewicz said the event was intended to be a "bit more chill and friendly" and attracted people who might not have felt comfortable attending rallies and protests.

"Obviously, there's been a lot of really good advocacy and rally action in Canberra already, but this event is designed to be a bit different," he said.

Canberra artists keen to be involved

Mx Aviv said there had been an overwhelmingly positive response from local artists.

"We approached a bunch of different Canberra bands and absolutely every single one of them wanted to do it," they said.

"I think people are feeling pretty powerless … and this is making people feel a bit more empowered."

Musical acts including Brass Knuckle Brass Band, Babyfreeze, Dog Name, Kilroy, At Last: Broadcast and Liam O'Connell played at the event.

Canberra musician and songwriter Liam O'Connell was hopeful the event would keep Gaza in the minds of Canberrans.

He said music was the only way he'd been able to express the "horror" of what he was seeing in Gaza.

"It's the only way I can communicate how it makes me feel and if anyone wants to hear it, then thanks," Mr O'Connell said.

Local visual artists also donated works for purchase.