Tens of thousands of Australians participated in nationwide pro-Palestinian rallies on Sunday, according to organisers. The protests, which took place in over 40 locations, featured large gatherings in major state capitals including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The Palestine Action Group estimated a total national attendance of around 350,000 people, though official police estimates for the Brisbane rally were significantly lower, placing the figure closer to 10,000.
The demonstrations were marked by strong language and calls for government action. In Sydney, organiser Josh Lees told crowds that Australians were demanding an end to the “genocide in Gaza” and urging sanctions against Israel. This public outcry stands in stark contrast to the views of groups like the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, whose co-CEO, Alex Ryvchin, stated that such rallies foster “an unsafe environment and shouldn’t be happening.”
These events occur against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between the Australian and Israeli governments. The diplomatic tension was ignited by the centre-left Labor government’s decision on August 11 to conditionally recognise a Palestinian state, aligning Australia with similar moves by allies like France, Britain, and Canada. This policy shift has drawn direct personal criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu towards Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The conflict in Gaza remains the central catalyst for the global response. The rallies follow a recent large-scale march across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge calling for peace and aid delivery. Palestinian authorities report the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 60,000 since the offensive began nearly two years ago, a campaign Israel launched in response to a deadly cross-border attack by Hamas. Humanitarian organizations continue to warn of a severe food shortage leading to widespread starvation in the region.
