Hyde Park, Sydney: The first pro-Palestinian protest of the year gets underway
Hundreds of people have come to the city center for the first pro-Palestinian protest of the year.
Dressed in red, green, white and black, the crowd of Sydneysiders gathered in Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon calling for a ceasefire and an end to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Many waved Palestinian flags or wore traditional Keffiyeh to show their support, as the conflict between the two nations enters its 92nd day.
“We are all Palestinians,” the crowd sang back to the organizers. ‘From the river to the sea Palestine will be free.’
Hundreds gathered in Sydney on Saturday for the first pro-Palestinian rally (above) of the year
Protesters in the Free Palestine March (above) called for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza
Participants in the Free Palestine March (above) sang ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’
NSW Police have said the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made
Dressed in red, green, white and black, the crowd of Sydneysiders (above) gathered in Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon
NSW Police have said the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made.
It is the thirteenth week that people have made the trek to the city to call for an end to the bombardment, which began on October 7 last year when the militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
Israel responded in kind, launching a sustained bombardment of Gaza, a move that has drawn worldwide criticism as the list of Palestinian victims grows.
As of January 5, at least 22,600 Palestinians have been killed, including 9,600 children and 6,750 women, and more than 57,900 have been injured. Thousands of others are missing and presumed dead.
Israel’s death toll stands at 1,139 people, with 8,730 injured.
After an hour of speeches from Australian Palestinian leaders and those whose families were involved in the conflict, hundreds took to the streets of Sydney’s CBD.
“One, two, three, four, we don’t want your bloody war,” they sang as they marched.
The rally (above) marked the thirteenth week that people have made the trek to the city to call for an end to the bombings.
After an hour of speeches from Australian Palestinian leaders and those whose families were involved in the conflict, hundreds took to the streets of Sydney’s CBD.
Many attendees (above) waved Palestinian flags or wore traditional Keffiyeh to show their support, as the conflict between the two nations enters its 92nd day.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s role in supporting Israel was attacked by some protesters
A huge Palestinian flag with hopeful messages from protesters was also paraded through the streets.
Members of Sydney’s Lebanese community made their presence known, waving flags and signs, after Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a drone strike in Beirut.
Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, although there are fears of an escalation of the war if Hezbollah responds.