Sydney: Nationwide protests in support of Palestinians swept across Australian cities, as relations between Canberra and Tel Aviv soured over the Albanese government’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
According to the Palestine Action Group, more than 40 rallies were staged across the country, drawing around 350,000 participants. Large demonstrations were reported in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
The group said about 50,000 people marched in Brisbane, although police put the figure closer to 10,000. Authorities did not provide estimates for Sydney or Melbourne, where crowds waved Palestinian flags and chanted “free, free Palestine.” The demonstrations drew criticism from Jewish leaders, who said the rallies heightened community tensions.
The protests come amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Australia and Israel. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government announced it would conditionally recognise Palestinian statehood, joining similar moves by France, Britain, and Canada.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with strong personal attacks on Albanese, further straining bilateral ties. The August 11 decision followed a high-profile march across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, where tens of thousands called for peace and increased humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
The nearly two-year war in Gaza has left more than 60,000 people dead, according to Palestinian authorities, while aid groups warn that food shortages have pushed large parts of the enclave to the brink of famine. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas militants carried out a deadly cross-border assault in 2023.
