Multitudes Participate in Pro-Palestine Demonstration over Sydney Harbour Bridge
In the heart of Sydney, thousands of demonstrators marched across the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, calling for peace and aid deliveries in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The march, organised by the 'March for Humanity', was a visible display of solidarity with the people of Gaza, who have been suffering from a humanitarian crisis for over two years.
The crisis in Gaza is primarily due to a full blockade imposed by Israel since March 2025, intended to pressure Hamas for hostage releases but leading to mass starvation, extreme malnutrition, and severe shortages of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. According to UN food security experts, the conditions have created a disaster on the verge of famine, with destruction of 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure and widespread displacement, placing millions of civilians, especially children, at acute risk.
International humanitarian organizations, including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), have criticized the blockade and Israel’s restrictive aid delivery system. This system has drastically reduced aid entry points, forcing Gaza’s population to risk dangerous journeys to scarce distribution centers, resulting in chaos and fatalities among civilians seeking aid. The aid model, it is argued, violates international humanitarian law obligations to ensure neutral and comprehensive humanitarian access.
The UN and major humanitarian agencies have called for immediate lifting or easing of the blockade to allow sufficient aid delivery, warning that current measures are unable to prevent famine and further civilian suffering. Many international actors advocate for protection of civilians under international law, cessation of hostilities in populated areas, and restoring essential services.
Diplomatic pressure on Israel has been increasing recently, with Britain, France, and Canada announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel addresses the humanitarian crisis and reaches a ceasefire. Britain, in particular, has stated that it will recognize a Palestinian state if Israel fails to make progress in peace talks.
However, Israel has condemned these decisions as rewarding Hamas, the group that governs Gaza and was responsible for the attack on Israel in October 2023. Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.
Australia's stance on the Gaza crisis is not explicitly detailed in the provided sources. However, Australia has historically supported efforts urging compliance with international humanitarian law, protection of civilians in conflict zones, and facilitating humanitarian aid. In past conflicts, Australia has typically aligned with broader international calls for de-escalation and humanitarian access.
The demonstration in Sydney was not without its challenges. New South Wales police and the state's premier tried to block the march from taking place on the bridge. However, the state's Supreme Court ruled that the march could go ahead. Notable among the marchers was Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza.
As the crisis in Gaza continues, the international community remains divided, with some countries increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel while others continue to support its actions. The situation remains a complex and sensitive issue, with humanitarian concerns at its core.
[1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "Gaza Strip: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens", 2025. [2] International Rescue Committee (IRC), "Gaza Crisis: A Humanitarian Disaster on the Brink of Famine", 2025. [3] United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), "Gaza Crisis: Children at Risk", 2025.
- The intense debate among international communities amid the Gaza crisis continues, with some nations urging for an immediate lifting or easing of the Israeli blockade to prevent famine and alleviate civilian suffering, while others support Israel's actions,primarily citing the need to prevent weapons from reaching the war-affiliated groups like Hamas.
- The escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, characterized by a full blockade, food shortages, and destruction of infrastructure, has drawn the attention of various general news outlets, international organizations such as the United Nations, and prominent figures like Julian Assange, sparking worldwide protests and calls for peace and aid deliveries in war-and-conflicts zones like Gaza.
