Australians Rise in Solidarity: A Nationwide Call for Palestinian Rights
SYDNEY, Aug 24 — Across Australia today, tens of thousands of everyday people stood shoulder to shoulder, hearts heavy, voices loud — calling for justice, peace, and an end to the suffering in Gaza.
From the heart of Sydney to the streets of Brisbane and Melbourne, more than 40 rallies were held nationwide, organized by the Palestine Action Group. While the group estimates that over 350,000 people participated, including 50,000 in Brisbane alone, police placed that number closer to 10,000. Still, the message was loud and clear: Australians care deeply about the plight of the Palestinian people.
In Sydney, rally organiser Josh Lees spoke with passion: “Australians are out in force to demand an end to this genocide in Gaza and to demand that our government sanction Israel.” With Palestinian flags waving in the air and voices chanting “Free, free Palestine,” it was more than a protest — it was a public outpouring of solidarity.
The demonstrations come at a time of rising tension between Australia and Israel. Just weeks ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government announced its conditional recognition of Palestinian statehood — a bold step aligning with similar moves made by France, Britain, and Canada. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticized Albanese, deepening the diplomatic strain.
Not everyone welcomed the rallies. Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, claimed the events were creating an “unsafe environment.” But for many protestors, the rallies were a peaceful, powerful way to express a shared grief and demand for change.
The August 11 announcement by the Australian government followed an earlier march of tens of thousands across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge — a cry for peace and humanitarian aid in Gaza, where violence has been relentless for nearly two years.
Since the conflict reignited, over 60,000 lives have reportedly been lost in Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities. Aid organizations warn that starvation is now widespread, with limited access to food and clean water pushing people to the edge.
Today, Australians made it known: they will not stay silent. They stood not just for Palestine, but for humanity — for justice, for peace, and for a world where no child goes to sleep fearing the sky.