Australians’ support for Palestine is at its greatest ever level and even bigger protests are to come, rally organisers say.
Marches across more than 40 cities and towns on Sunday drew crowds in the hundreds of thousands, the largest pro-Palestine demonstrations in Australia’s history.
The nationwide day of action saw every major Palestinian organising group join forces from state capitals to far-flung inland and coastal towns.
Palestine Action Group’s Sydney spokesman Josh Lees said the numbers have bolstered the group’s plans for greater continued resistance.
“Sunday was the most nationally co-ordinated day we’ve had so far,” he told AAP.
“If you add all the numbers up, this is the biggest ever mobilisation over 40 cities and towns in support of Palestine.
“What we saw with the Sydney Harbour Bridge march of 300,000 people … that was the moment that the dam burst.
“Now it’s overflowing.”
Protests began taking place from 12pm in every capital city, as well as regional locations including Newcastle, Bathurst, Shepparton, Geraldton, Coffs Harbour, Katoomba, Tathra and Mackay.
Mr Lees put the combined turnout on Sunday at more than 300,000 with Sydney and Melbourne attracting crowds of about 100,000 each.
“You don’t get these kinds of numbers out unless there’s a big majority support,” he said.
Brisbane amassed the largest pro-Palestinian crowd in the city’s history, with rally organisers estimating about 50,000 turned up in support.
Police estimates of crowds were far more conservative. Both Queensland Police and Victoria Police put the figures in their respective capital cities at 10,000.
Mr Lees said the aerial footage spoke for itself.
“There’s just huge momentum now (and) the numbers give people the confidence to keep pushing.
“The government is under massive pressure now.”
Author and advocate Grace Tame expressed similar sentiments at the Sydney march.
“There is another force that power responds to … it is public pressure,” she told those gathered at the city’s Hyde Park on Sunday.
“If we can get 300,000 to block the bridge we can get three million.”
Organisers are aiming for another national day of action on Sunday, October 5, to mark two years since the violence began.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have died including 18,000 children since October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1200 people and took more than 200 hostages at an Israeli music festival, according to the United Nations.
The UN recently confirmed famine in parts of the Gaza Strip for the first time, as Israel prepares for a military takeover of the entire city.
Israel has rejected criticism that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, a claim that has also been brought against it at the International Court of Justice.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the famine declaration an “outright lie”.
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