MNN (Web-Desk); Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Sydney, Australia on Sunday, marching across the iconic Harbour Bridge in a large-scale demonstration calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory. The rally highlighted growing public outrage over what activists describe as “man-made starvation” in Gaza due to Israel’s prolonged blockade.
Braving strong winds and rain, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Ceasefire Now” and “Free Palestine” in what organizers named the “March for Humanity.” Many participants brought pots and pans, symbolizing the food shortages and hunger crisis impacting Gaza’s civilian population.
The march followed a recent joint statement by Australia and over a dozen countries signaling openness to recognizing the State of Palestine as part of efforts toward a two-state solution. While Australia has urged an end to hostilities, it has yet to formally acknowledge Palestinian statehood.
Estimates of attendance varied, with police reporting up to 90,000 people at the rally, while the organizing group, Palestine Action Group Sydney, claimed participation could have reached as high as 300,000.
The crowd included people of all ages—from elderly citizens to families with children. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was also present, though he did not address the public or speak to reporters.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi addressed the rally in Sydney’s Lang Park, demanding severe sanctions against Israel and accusing it of carrying out atrocities against Palestinians. Author Antony Loewenstein, who has written about Israel’s weapons and surveillance exports, also spoke at the event. He criticized the Australian government for its role in the global F-35 fighter jet supply chain, noting that these jets have been used by Israel in attacks on Gaza.
“There’s widespread anger here,” Loewenstein told Al Jazeera. “People are not just outraged by Israel’s actions, but also by Australia’s passive role. Our government is doing little more than issuing statements while remaining deeply involved behind the scenes.”
