More than 50 Australian Muslim organisations have issued a joint statement calling on as many mosques as possible to be lit with the colours of the Palestinian flag – red, black, white and green – or fly Free Palestine banners.

It wants mosques, Islamic schools and education institutions to spend the next month hosting events to teach about the history of Palestine and the significance of Masjid al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Signatories to the statement, released on Thursday, included the Australian National Imams Council, the Lebanese Muslim Association, the Islamic Council of NSW, and the Australian Palestinian Community Council.

They have also accused Australian political leaders of a one-sided portrayal of the issue.

“Australia should be pursuing avenues of peace and restraint when navigating civil conflicts, rather than supporting a decision to light up the Sydney Opera House and Parliament House Canberra with the colours of a colonising, invading, Zionist occupying regime,” it said.

After the attacks by Hamas on Israel, which left hundreds dead, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the “indiscriminate and abhorrent attacks” and recognised Israel’s right to defend itself.

Israel has been intensively bombing Gaza for several days, and has ordered a complete siege of the territory – home to 2.3 million people – by cutting off water and food.