Thousands of Pro-Palestine Protesters March across Sydney Harbour Bridge

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge on Sunday, braving heavy rain to demand peace and aid for Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Nearly two years into the war, which Palestinian authorities report has killed over 60,000 people, governments and aid organizations highlight severe food shortages causing widespread starvation in Gaza.

Organized by the Palestine Action Group Sydney as the “March for Humanity,” the event saw participants, from elderly to families with young children, carrying pots and pans to symbolize hunger. “Enough is enough,” said Doug, a man in his sixties with white hair. “When people from all over the world gather and speak up, evil can be overcome.” Many waved Palestinian flags, chanted “We are all Palestinians,” and carried umbrellas. Among them was WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. New South Wales Police estimated up to 90,000 attendees, exceeding expectations, while organizers claimed as many as 300,000 participated.

Last week, New South Wales Police and the state’s premier sought to block the march on the bridge, citing safety and transport concerns. The state’s Supreme Court ruled on Saturday to allow it. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Peter McKenna noted over 1,000 police were deployed due to fears of a crowd crush. “No one was hurt,” he said at a press conference, adding, “But gee whiz, I wouldn’t like to try and do this every Sunday at that short notice.” A similar protest occurred in Melbourne with police presence.

Diplomatic pressure on Israel has intensified recently. France, Canada, and Britain have signaled support for recognizing a Palestinian state, with Britain conditioning it on Israel addressing the humanitarian crisis and securing a ceasefire. Israel condemned these moves as rewarding Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked an offensive that has devastated Gaza. Israel denies pursuing starvation policies and accuses Hamas of stealing aid. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supports a two-state solution, stating Israel’s denial of aid and civilian deaths “cannot be defended or ignored,” but has not recognized Palestine.

Therese Curtis, an 80-year-old marcher, highlighted her access to medical care in Australia, saying, “The people in Palestine are having their hospitals bombed, they’re being denied a basic right of medical care, and I’m marching specifically for that.”