Australia Erupts: Record Pro-Palestinian Protests Rock Major Cities

From Sydney to Perth, tens of thousands of Australians poured into the streets this Sunday in what organizers called the country’s largest-ever show of solidarity with Palestinians. Demonstrations were staged at roughly 40 locations nationwide, with crowds chanting slogans, waving Palestinian flags, and demanding that Canberra sever ties with Jerusalem.

Marchers shouted “occupation no more” and “sanction Israel now,” while others carried placards branding Israel a “terrorist state” and drawing inflammatory comparisons to Nazi Germany.

Protesters demand sanctions, arms halt

Organizers urged the Australian government to impose sanctions on Israel and to immediately halt the supply of aircraft parts used in Israeli fighter jets. “Australia must stop being complicit,” one speaker told demonstrators in Sydney’s central business district, where thousands blocked traffic in the heart of the city.

The Guardian reported that attendance reached into the tens of thousands, with crowds swelling far beyond expectations.

Diplomatic crisis with Israel deepens

The protests unfolded against the backdrop of a spiraling diplomatic dispute. Earlier this month, Canberra announced it would formally recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, a move that drew fierce condemnation from Jerusalem.

Israel has warned that recognition would embolden Hamas and weaken efforts to secure hostage releases, while Australian officials argue the policy shift reflects growing international momentum for Palestinian statehood.

Escalating pressure

Sunday’s rallies mark a significant escalation of grassroots activism in Australia’s foreign policy debate, placing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese under increasing pressure from both pro-Palestinian advocates and pro-Israel groups.

With the largest protests yet, the clash between street politics and diplomatic maneuvering shows no sign of easing ahead of the UN vote.