Tens of thousands of Australians took to the streets on Sunday in a strong show of support for Palestinians, days after famine was officially declared in Gaza.
The nationwide protests took place amid rising tensions between Australia and Israel over Canberra’s decision to recognize a Palestinian State in September.
Massive Turnout
Around 350,000 of Australians marched across the country to show their support for the Palestinian cause. According to the demonstrations’ organizer, Palestine Action Group, over 40 protests took place across Australia on Sunday.
Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne witnessed the largest turnout of protesters, with more than 100,000 people attending the Sydney rally, another 100,000 taking part in the Melbourne rally, and an estimated 50,000 participating in Brisbane.
However, the Queensland Police Service put the number of protesters in Brisbane at 10,000, while Victoria police’s estimated Melbourne’s figure at 10,000. The New South Wales police has yet to release their figure, according to The Guardian.
Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations
With chants of “Free, Free Palestine,” Australians in Sydney expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in one of the largest pro-Palestine demonstrations in Australia’s history. Waving Palestinian flags, demonstrators demanded sanctions and an end to Australia’s arms trade with Israel.
One of the protests’ organizers, Josh Lees, said that Australians took to the streets to “demand an end to this genocide in Gaza and to demand that our government sanction Israel,” according to Reuters.
Demonstrations began at midday on Sunday in every capital city across Australia and several regional areas, including Shepparton, Geraldton, Coffs Harbour, and the Pine Gap military intelligence base, with some hosting pro-Palestinian protests for the first time.
Gaza Famine
The nationwide protests were driven by the official declaration of famine in areas of the Gaza Strip and Israeli plans to expand its military offensive in the enclave.
On Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) determined that Gaza City and the surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine that will likely spread across the entire enclave.
The death toll from the war in Gaza has surpassed 62,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Meanwhile, malnutrition-related deaths climbed to 281, including 114 children.
Australia-Israel Tensions
Relations between Australia and Israel have turned sour in recent weeks after Canberra’s decision to recognize Palestinian Statehood in September, in line with similar moves by France, Britain and Canada.
Moreover, the Australian government barred the far-right Israeli politician, Simcha Rothman, from entering the country ahead of a scheduled visit. In turn, Israel revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority.
This also prompted the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to step up his personal attacks on his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, whom he called a “weak politician” who “betrayed Israel” and “abandoned” Australia’s Jewish community, according to BBC.
Earlier in August, tens of thousands of Australians marched across the historic Sydney Harbour Bridge, calling for a ceasefire and increased aid flow in Gaza.
