Source : Perth Now news
Pro-Palestine rallies swept across Australia on Sunday, with demonstrators gathering in major cities and regional centres as thousands in Sydney joined a loud and angry march through the CBD over the war in Gaza.
In Sydney, Hyde Park filled with flags, placards and chants as protesters condemned Israel’s military campaign and accused the Australian government of failing to respond strongly enough.
Cries of “shame” echoed through the crowd as people packed into the city centre before marching on Market St.
Placards reading ‘Sanction Israel now’ and ‘Shame on Israel’ were held aloft throughout the gathering.
Other signs targeted NSW Premier Chris Minns with the words ‘Mossad Minns must go’.
Some in the crowd also waved posters showing a Star of David covered in blood.
Activist Grace Tame later urged the crowd to keep speaking out, framing the protest as a stand against violence rather than hatred.
“Don’t clap me, clap yourselves for being here despite the constant, ongoing demonisation of all of us who simply believe in humanity and the right of all of us to exist freely together in this world,” Ms Tame said.
Ms Tame told demonstrators the movement was rooted in a belief in shared humanity.
“This is not about hatred. It’s not about valuing any individual life or any group’s life above any other. This is about stopping the violence.
“At the end of the day, we are the people and we have the power.”
Thousands then moved peacefully through the Sydney CBD, chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Brick by brick, wall by wall, the occupation has to fall”.
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi also addressed the Sydney crowd, directing fierce criticism at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australia’s political leaders.
“Three years and counting of legislation being weaponised to silence us. Three years and counting of gaslighting by Labor, Liberals, One Nation, and their cronies,” Ms Faruqi said.
“Three years and counting of Labor governments across this country and their institutions punishing people just for telling the truth about Palestine and Israel.”
She accused the Albanese government of doing too little during the conflict.
“(The government has) been sitting on their hands over the three years of genocide. They have been sitting on their hands when an Australian aid worker was hunted and killed by the Israeli military,” she said.
“We must never allow the cowards and the psychopaths that rule this country to forget that this has happened under their watch. This has happened under the Labor government’s watch.”
The demonstrations were part of a wider national day of action, with rallies held across capital cities and regional centres.
In Canberra, protesters gathered at Garema Place carrying Palestinian flags and signs, including one that read, ‘Tell Labor genocide is a red line’.
In Hobart, hundreds marched along the waterfront carrying Palestinian flags and placards while chanting “the West Bank will be free”.
The group later headed to Tasmania’s Parliament, where speakers included Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre representative Nala Mansell and Tasmanian Palestine Advocacy Network member Feras Shaheen.
He urged supporters to intensify their efforts to pressure for change.
“What else can you do in your spaces … there is still a lot to do,” Mr Shaheen said.
The rallies were held as the human toll of the conflict continued to mount. According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 175,000 injured.
The United Nations estimates 1.9 million people have been displaced.
