Saving Lives: Australians March for Urgent Action in Gaza
SYDNEY — With a sense of urgency and determination, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Australian cities and towns on Sunday to demand action to save Palestinians facing starvation in Gaza.
The protesters flooded the streets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and over a dozen other cities, calling for sanctions on Israel and an immediate halt to Australia’s arms trade with the country.
While police estimated around 10,000 marchers in Sydney, organizers claimed a staggering 100,000 participants, bringing the total number nationwide to approximately 300,000.
In Melbourne, demonstrators congregated outside Victoria’s State Library, raising their voices in unison, chanting, “Sanction Israel now.”
Adelaide witnessed about 5,000 individuals rallying in Victoria Square before embarking on a march to Parliament House, where independent senator Fatima Payman addressed the impassioned crowd.
In Perth, organizers reported an impressive 20,000 people joining the march, with smaller but impactful demonstrations seen in Canberra, Hobart, and other regions.
Josh Lees, representing the Palestine Action Group’s Sydney branch, highlighted the significant momentum generated by a protest earlier in the month on Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Organizer Nour Salman emphasized the need for Canberra’s planned recognition of Palestinian statehood at the upcoming U.N. meeting in September to be accompanied by sanctions on Israel, stating firmly, “Enough is enough. There is no ifs, buts, or maybes.”
The rallies took place just two days after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the top hunger monitoring organization globally, declared a state of famine in Gaza City and issued a warning about the potential spread of this crisis across the region.
According to the IPC, over 500,000 individuals in Gaza are currently facing catastrophic hunger, with many in imminent danger of losing their lives. However, Israel has rejected these findings.
As reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, the ongoing war since October 7, 2023, has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 62,263 Palestinian lives, with nearly half of the casualties being women and children. — Agencies
