An estimated 30,000 people marched through Sydney’s business district on Sunday in one of Australia’s largest pro-Palestinian rallies, held just days after a court blocked plans to stage the protest at the Sydney Opera House. Similar demonstrations took place in Melbourne and across the country.
Organizers said 27 rallies were held nationwide, with Sydney drawing the largest turnout. The protests came as Israeli forces began pulling back under the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, aimed at halting the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people and left much of the enclave in ruins.
At the Sydney rally, Amal Naser, one of the organizers, declared that “even if the ceasefire holds, Israel is still conducting a military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.” She added that the occupation and systemic discrimination against Palestinians in Israel amounted to an “Apartheid system.”
Footage from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyeh scarves as they marched through closed city streets. Police confirmed that no arrests were made during the peaceful protest.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have become a regular feature in Australia, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023. The rallies reflect growing public concern over the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
According to Gaza authorities, more than 67,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its military response to the Hamas attack. Much of Gaza has been flattened, with widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and essential services.
Meanwhile, preparations were underway on Sunday to increase humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza, as international agencies warn of worsening shortages of food, medicine, and shelter for displaced civilians.
The Sydney rally underscored both the global resonance of the Palestinian cause and the fragile nature of the ceasefire, with protesters demanding not only an end to the war but also long-term justice and recognition for Palestinians.
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