Tens of thousands of people (up to 120,000 according to certain sources) participated on Sunday in a major demonstration on the famous bridge of Sydney, as part of an event called “March for Humanity” (walking for humanity). This pro-Palestinian mobilization was authorized in extremis by the Supreme Court of South Wales, less than 24 hours before its start, despite the opposition of the police who feared security and traffic problems.
In pouring rain, the demonstrators, many to display Palestinian flags, have brandished signs claiming an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. “Shame in Israel, shame in the United States,” chanted thousands of votes. The slogans were rushing: “What do we want? A ceasefire! When? Now!”. Among the participants were notable personalities such as Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, the Federal MP Ed Husic, and the former Prime Minister of New South Wales Bob Carr.
However, the event was marked by overflows, with the presence of flags of the Taliban and Daesh, as well as photos of Khamenei, as well as the slogans “died in the Israeli army” and “Vive la Intifada”, for a long time.
A woman holding a sign with a star of David and a swastika, accompanied by the legend: “The Zionists are neo-Nazis”, was photographed. We have also seen al-Qaeda flags and signs referring to the Holocaust and the Nazis, like a drawing from Netanyahu with a Hitler mustache.
The organizers of the Palestine Action Group presented this march as a response to the “humanitarian disaster in Gaza”. Judge Belinda Rigg had recognized the existence of security risks while refusing to prohibit the demonstration, ordering the closure of the bridge to car traffic during the duration of the event. The office of the New Minister of South Wales had previously declared that he “did not intend to let Sydney sink into chaos”.
This mobilization comes in a context of increasing pressure on the Australian government to recognize a Palestinian state, after France, Canada and the United Kingdom have suggested that they could support such an approach at the next UN General Assembly. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has nevertheless reaffirmed that he would not give in to international pressures as long as the conditions guaranteeing the security of Israel is not met.