Australia Erupts in Solidarity: Massive Pro-Palestine Marches Demand Action After Gaza Famine Crisis!
August 24, 2025 – Tens of thousands of Australians took to the streets across cities and towns on Sunday, rallying in support of Palestine following the declaration of famine in Gaza for the first time. From Brisbane’s historic turnout to Melbourne’s bustling crowds, the demonstrations marked a powerful show of unity, with protesters calling for sanctions and an end to Australia’s arms trade with Israel. Backed by over 250 community groups and unions, the marches underscored a growing public demand for action, reflecting widespread outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Historic Turnout in Brisbane
In Brisbane, rally organizers hailed Sunday’s event as the largest pro-Palestinian gathering in the city’s history, estimating a staggering 50,000 participants. Queensland police, however, reported a more conservative figure of 10,000. The massive crowd gathered at Queens Garden in the city center before marching across Victoria Bridge, an alternative route chosen after authorities banned a planned march across the Story Bridge on community safety grounds. The decision, upheld by a magistrate on Thursday, was welcomed by Queensland police acting assistant commissioner Rhys Wildman, who praised the organizers’ cooperation.
The energy in Brisbane was palpable, with ferries at full capacity and streets overflowing as demonstrators voiced their solidarity. Remah Naji, spokesperson for Justice for Palestine Magan-djin, addressed the crowd, calling the rally “the biggest pro-Palestine rally that this city has ever seen.” The turnout was attributed to both the urgency of the Gaza crisis and the controversy surrounding the Story Bridge ban, which galvanized even more people to join the cause.
Nationwide Wave of Protests
The demonstrations were not limited to Brisbane. In Melbourne, organizers claimed 100,000 people marched, though Victoria police estimated 10,000 participants. In Sydney, rally organizers reported a crowd of 100,000, with New South Wales police yet to confirm their figure as of Sunday afternoon. The protests, described by organizers as potentially the largest pro-Palestine demonstrations in Australia’s history, spanned around 40 cities and towns, supported by groups like the Victorian Trades Hall Council, Unions NSW, Hunter Workers, Unions WA, and the South Coast Labour Council.
The marches followed a significant moment on August 3, when an estimated 90,000 to 300,000 people crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge after a Supreme Court ruling overturned a police bid to block the protest. Josh Lees, a spokesperson for the Palestine Action Group in Sydney, described the movement as “the biggest it’s ever been,” noting that the bridge march had sparked unprecedented momentum nationwide. “The dam has burst in terms of support for Palestine and opposition to this genocide,” Lees said, highlighting the growing public outcry.
Voices of Solidarity
Among the sea of protesters were individuals like Jawad Al Maj, a refugee from Iran now living in Underwood, who attended the Brisbane rally with his family. Holding his two-year-old daughter Khadija while his wife Amira pushed their one-year-old son Hussain in a pram, Al Maj spoke of his moral duty to act. “The difference between my kids and those kids in Palestine is geography. It’s luck,” he told reporters. “It could have been my kids being blown up while Australia is silent. If I were in that situation, I’d hope people would speak up for me. So I’m speaking up.” His words captured the sentiment of many attendees, who felt a personal connection to the crisis despite the distance.
Greens leader Larissa Waters, who joined the Brisbane march, described it as the largest gathering since the protests against the Iraq War. “It’s a real show of sentiment by ordinary people that they know our government should be doing more,” she said, urging stronger action from Australian authorities to address the Gaza crisis.
A Call for Change
The nationwide protests were organized by every major Palestine advocacy group in Australia, uniting under a shared demand for sanctions against Israel and an end to the country’s arms trade. The declaration of famine in Gaza, a rare and dire milestone, amplified the urgency of the demonstrations, with marchers emphasizing the need for immediate humanitarian intervention. The involvement of over 250 community organizations and unions underscored the broad coalition supporting the cause, reflecting a growing consensus among Australians for justice and accountability.
As the protests drew to a close, organizers expressed hope that the historic turnout would pressure the government to reconsider its policies. The marches, fueled by both compassion and frustration, sent a clear message: Australians are standing with Palestine, and they expect their leaders to act. With momentum building, the movement shows no signs of slowing down, as communities across the nation continue to rally for change.