Australia’s Largest Protest: Over 100,000 March Across Sydney Harbour Bridge for Gaza

Kokcha News Agency reports that Sydney, Australia, witnessed its largest-ever protest as over 100,000 people marched across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to call for an end to the violence in Gaza. The protest, which included high-profile figures like Julian Assange, former Foreign Minister Bob Carr, and government MP Ed Husic, was described by police as the biggest demonstration they have ever seen.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was closed to traffic at 11:30 AM on Sunday to accommodate the massive crowd. Organizers estimated that nearly 300,000 people participated, though police put the number at 90,000.

Protest Details:

• Route: Protesters gathered at Lang Park in the city center and marched 1.2 kilometers across the bridge despite heavy rain.
• Message: Protesters carried banners reading “Walk for Humanity – Save Gaza”, with many calling for sanctions against Israel and recognition of a Palestinian state.
• Police Intervention: The march was initially planned to end in front of the U.S. Consulate, but police issued a mass message at around 3:00 PM citing public safety concerns and ordered the protest to disperse. Helicopters were used to announce the order, and protesters were asked to turn back.

Key Figures:

• Julian Assange: The WikiLeaks founder joined the march, lending his voice to the growing global outcry against the violence in Gaza.
• Bob Carr: The former Australian Foreign Minister recently called for sanctions against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and recognition of a Palestinian state.

Australia’s Stance:

While Australia has called for an end to the war in Gaza, it has yet to officially recognize a Palestinian state or impose sanctions on Israel.

Organizers’ Statement:

Josh Lee, one of the organizers, said:
“This is a walk for humanity to stop a genocide. Politicians must now listen to the people and impose sanctions on Israel.”