SYDNEY (AP) On Sunday, tens of thousands of Australians participated in peaceful rallies across major cities and towns, advocating for urgent action to assist the ailing and starving Palestinian population. Demonstrations occurred in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and numerous other locations nationwide, with protesters calling for sanctions against Israel and demanding an end to Australia’s arms trade with the country.
While police estimates indicated that around 10,000 individuals were present in Sydney, organizers claimed that the actual turnout was closer to 100,000, contributing to a total of 300,000 participants across Australia. In Melbourne, demonstrators gathered outside Victoria’s State Library, emphasizing their demands with chants like "sanction Israel now."
Nour Salman, an organizer for the events, highlighted Australia's commitment to recognizing Palestinian statehood in alignment with like-minded allies at the upcoming United Nations meeting in September. Salman stressed that this recognition must be paired with stricter sanctions on Israel, stating emphatically, "Enough is enough. There are no ifs, buts, or maybes."
In Adelaide, approximately 5,000 protesters gathered in Victoria Square, chanting "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" before marching to Parliament House, where they were addressed by independent senator Fatima Payman. In Sydney, Josh Lees, a spokesman for the Palestine Action Group, noted that a recent march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge had generated significant momentum for the cause across Australia.
Estimates suggested that around 20,000 individuals participated in protests in Perth, with smaller demonstrations also held in Canberra, Hobart, and other cities. These rallies were sparked by a recent report indicating that the largest city in the Gaza Strip is facing severe famine, a situation that could deteriorate further unless ceasefire conditions are met and restrictions on humanitarian aid are lifted.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that over 500,000 individuals in Gaza, accounting for roughly a quarter of the region's population, are experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger, with many at risk of death due to malnutrition. Israel has rejected the IPC's findings, raising questions about the credibility of the claims.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 62,263 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict, which erupted on October 7, 2023. This ministry operates within the framework of the Hamas-run government and is staffed by medical professionals, though it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in terms of casualties. According to the ministry, around half of the deceased are women and children. Many independent experts and the UN consider these figures to be the most reliable estimates of wartime casualties, despite Israel disputing the reported toll without providing its own figures.
The current conflict began when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, resulting in around 1,200 Israeli deaths, predominantly among civilians, and the taking of hostages.
