Pro-Palestine supporters flock to streets of Australian cities as situation in Gaza deteriorates

Attendance at pro-Palestinian rallies across the country is increasing as images of violence in the Middle East resonate through Australian communities.

Chants for freedom, justice and an end to apartheid ring out across capitals as Australians who support a free Palestine unite.

Thousands marched through Sydney’s CBD on Saturday after police gave the green light for the event, with many more people expected to attend events in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane as more information emerges from conflict-affected Gaza.

Protest organizer Fahad Ali from Sydney said more Australians – including leading politicians Ed Husic and Anne Aly – were recognizing the severity of the situation in Gaza.

Mr Ali said organizers had worked closely with police to ensure the event was successful.

“Last week the NSW Premier said there would never be another Palestine march in this state,” he said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“We fought against that and won, so today we’re looking forward to a really successful, really wonderful event.”

Protesters walked from Sydney Town Hall to Belmore Park.

Previous protests have seen a heavy police presence after videos emerged of a small group chanting anti-Semitic slogans at a rally at the Sydney Opera House.

Thousands of people have joined a march in Sydney in support of Palestine.

Since then, the rallies have been relatively peaceful, with organizers across the country suppressing hateful comments to ensure the focus remains on their core message: free Palestine.

More pro-Palestinian protests will take place in Melbourne and Adelaide on Sunday.

The Prime Minister has provided $25 million to the Jewish and Muslim communities affected by the conflict, and while Mr Ali welcomed the move, he said the government must take immediate action to push for a ceasefire fires, and that humanitarian aid reaches civilians.

“We are facing a humanitarian crisis in Palestine the scale of which we have never seen before,” he said.

“We cannot wash our hands of responsibility when we played a role in creating the circumstances that led to this.”

Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, called on the government to work towards a peaceful solution and address the dire situation in Gaza.

Hamas carried out a cross-border attack on October 7 that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and took more than 150 people hostage.

Two hostages from the United States, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released on Saturday morning.

Israel retaliated against the initial attack by besieging the 2.

3 million people living in Gaza and unleashing a bombing campaign that Palestinian officials say left more than 3,500 dead, another 12,000 injured and about a million displaced.

Citizens in Gaza are without power, water is scarce and dwindling fuel sources for emergency generators are running out.

More than a dozen pro-Palestinian rallies are taking place in and around Sydney.

More than 1,650 Australians have left Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since October 7, and commercial flights are available for others wishing to return home.

The Foreign Affairs Department is in contact with registered Australians about departure options.

But the government has previously said there are 46 Australians in Gaza whose safety remains unknown.