A Sea of Solidarity: Tens of Thousands March Across Sydney Harbour Bridge for Gaza”

 

Sydney, Australia – August 3, 2025

On a rain-soaked Sunday, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge became a powerful stage for one of the largest protests in the city’s history. An estimated 90,000 to 300,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, organized by the Palestine Action Group, participated in the “March for Humanity” to demand an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The event, which shut down the bridge for over five hours, was a vibrant display of solidarity, resilience, and a call for urgent action against the ongoing conflict in Palestine.

A Historic Gathering in the Rain

Despite torrential rain and blustery conditions, protesters of all ages gathered at Lang Park in Sydney’s CBD at 1 p.m., armed with Palestinian flags, handmade signs, and pots and pans symbolizing the starvation crisis in Gaza. Families with young children, elderly marchers, and high-profile figures like WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, former NSW Premier Bob Carr, federal MP Ed Husic, and former Socceroo Craig Foster joined the throng. The crowd stretched the entire 1.2-kilometer length of the bridge, creating a breathtaking visual of unity.

Eight-year-old Aaliyah, her face painted with the Palestinian flag, chanted “Free Palestine” from her father’s shoulders. Her parents, Ali and Hanan, spoke of the march’s significance: “It’s 2025, how can we witness this? This is history in the making. The people shut down the Harbour Bridge – the people did it.” For Hanan, bringing her daughter was about teaching her to stand against injustice, calling it “bigger than us.”

A Legal Victory and a Defiant Message

The march almost didn’t happen. NSW Police and Premier Chris Minns initially opposed the event, citing public safety concerns and insufficient planning time. The Palestine Action Group had submitted a Form 1 expecting 10,000 attendees, but police feared a “crowd crush” with far larger numbers. However, on August 2, Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg ruled in favor of the protest, declaring it an authorized public assembly. She emphasized the “very high” public interest in freedom of expression, noting that the group’s experienced marshals and history of cooperation with police mitigated safety risks. This legal victory granted protesters immunity from certain offenses, such as obstructing traffic, under the Summary Offences Act.

Josh Lees, a spokesperson for the Palestine Action Group, hailed the event as a “monumental and historic moment” in Australia’s anti-war protest history. “The police and the premier tried to stop us, but the people came in their masses to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza,” he told reporters. The group claimed up to 300,000 participants, though NSW Police estimated 90,000. Regardless, Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna called it the largest protest he had witnessed in his career, describing it as “perilous at times” due to the sheer volume of people.

A Cry Against Atrocities

The March for Humanity was a response to what organizers and humanitarian groups describe as a deliberate starvation crisis in Gaza. The Palestine Action Group highlighted reports from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, noting 74 malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza in 2025, including 63 in July, with 24 children under five. Protesters carried signs reading “Ceasefire Now” and “Stop Supporting Genocide,” chanting against Israeli policies and calling for Australian government sanctions.

Speakers like Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Craig Foster urged Australia to withdraw military support for Israel and act decisively. “The starving children of Gaza cannot wait another day,” Foster told the crowd. Protesters like Zeina voiced their anguish: “I’m sick of seeing emaciated children on my screen every day. Fathers looking for bread and being shot—it’s not okay.”

Safety Concerns and Police Response

The massive turnout led to logistical challenges. Around 3 p.m., NSW Police issued geo-targeted text messages ordering protesters to stop at the northern end of the bridge due to crowd crush fears. Demonstrators were redirected south toward the CBD, a move that confused some but was deemed necessary to prevent overwhelming public transport and ensure safety. Approximately 1,000 police officers were deployed, and the bridge reopened to traffic by 5 p.m., later than planned. Despite the tense moments, the event remained peaceful, with no reported incidents.

Transport for NSW warned of significant disruptions, with road closures and delays affecting the CBD and North Sydney. Wynyard and Town Hall train stations managed the crowds relatively smoothly, though police blocked smaller entrances to Town Hall for safety.

A Broader Movement

The Sydney march was part of a national outpouring of solidarity. In Melbourne, 3,000 protesters gathered at the State Library, marching to King Street despite police resistance. In Adelaide, the Australian Friends of Palestine Association organized a rally described as a “flood of solidarity.” Organizers across cities called for sanctions against Israel and an end to what they term a “genocide” in Gaza, citing over 40,000 child deaths and ongoing restrictions on aid.

Israel has denied claims of starvation or genocide, attributing Gaza’s suffering to Hamas. However, international humanitarian groups and the Gaza Health Ministry report dire conditions, with 40,000 babies at risk of death due to malnutrition.

A Moment of Moral Clarity

The Palestine Action Group described the march as a “beautiful, inspiring outpouring of humanity.” Amal Naser, another spokesperson, credited the huge turnout to public backlash against attempts to suppress the protest. “People saw the police and premier’s coordinated attack on our right to protest, and they showed up to say no to atrocities,” she said. The group announced plans for a “national day of humanity” to continue pressuring the Australian government.

The Jewish Council of Australia endorsed the march, with executive officer Sarah Schwartz calling it a “mass call to save Gaza.” However, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies expressed disappointment, arguing that using the bridge for a “divisive foreign conflict” strained social cohesion.

A Legacy of Resistance

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has hosted historic demonstrations before, including the 2000 Walk for Reconciliation and the 2023 World Pride march. Sunday’s protest, however, marked a new milestone as the largest anti-war rally in Australian history, surpassing the 2023 World Pride turnout of 50,000. Organizers emphasized that the Free Palestine movement has become Australia’s longest continuous anti-war protest.

As the rain fell and voices echoed across the bridge, the March for Humanity sent a clear message: the people of Sydney, and Australia, demand action to end the suffering in Gaza. For protesters like Therese Curtis, an 80-year-old marcher, it was about standing up for basic human rights: “Palestinians are being denied medical care, bombed in hospitals. I’m here for them.”

For more updates on global solidarity movements, stay tuned to Scoopy World