Tens of thousands of demonstrators braved heavy rain to march across Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge, demanding peace and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis is worsening. Nearly two years into the war, Palestinian authorities claim more than 6,000 people have been killed, while aid agencies say food shortages are leading to extreme hunger.
Some of the participants in the protest, called the "march for humanity," held posters and banners with symbols of hunger.
"The greatest injustice in the world; babies are being killed. And for what? Because they are incompetent, they could not defend their borders. That is why they are punishing the whole world now, especially the Palestinians. Palestine, we are with you…," writes A2 CNN.
Among the participants, who ranged from the elderly to families with young children, was WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Many of them carried umbrellas and waved Palestinian flags, chanting "We are all Palestinians."
Police reported that around 90,000 people had participated in the demonstration, much more than expected.
While organizers spoke of 300,000 participants, New South Wales police and the state's premier tried last week to stop the demonstration from taking place on the famous bridge, claiming it would block traffic.
But the Supreme Court ruled on Saturday that the protest could take place. More than 1,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order, as the size of the crowd had raised fears of possible accidents. But in the end, as announced at a press conference, there were no injuries, reports A2 CNN.
Police were also present in Melbourne, where a similar march was held. Diplomatic pressure on Israel has increased in recent weeks. France and Canada have said they will recognize the state of Palestine, and Britain has warned it will follow suit if Israel does not address the humanitarian crisis and achieve a ceasefire. (A2 Televizion)
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