An estimated 300,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbor Bridge on Sunday in what organizers described as one of the largest demonstrations in Australian history, calling for an end to what they termed the genocide in Gaza and demanding immediate humanitarian aid access. Despite torrential rain and police efforts to limit the crowd, protesters from all walks of life gathered under the banner “March for Humanity—Save Gaza,” flooding the iconic landmark with umbrellas, ponchos, and unwavering resolve.
Footage circulated widely online showed an immense column of people stretched along the 1.2-kilometer bridge, chanting, carrying signs that read “Stop Genocide!”, “Let Aid In,” and “Feed Gaza!” The protest was the latest in a series of weekly actions organized since October 7, 2023, but its scale far exceeded expectations. While police described the crowd as exceeding 100,000, organizers estimated the turnout at 300,000—double their initial projections.
“It’s even bigger than my wildest dreams,” said Josh Lees, one of the lead organizers, speaking to Guardian Australia. “It’s a mass march for humanity to stop a genocide, our politicians have to now listen to the will of the people and sanction Israel.”
The demonstration, which began peacefully and remained so despite crowding concerns, temporarily came to a halt when police feared the massive turnout could result in a crush. Marchers received SMS alerts instructing them to reverse course and return to the central business district. Helicopters circled above, and trains rolling across nearby tracks were met with cheers from marchers shouting “Free, free Palestine.”
Among the demonstrators were families with children, elderly couples with walking sticks, and diverse groups bearing signs of solidarity. Many children carried homemade signs and banged pots and pans—an audible representation of the starvation crisis in Gaza. One young boy stood atop a pillar leading chants of “In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians.” A year 5 student named Maila, attending with her family, told The Guardian, “I’m speaking out for the Palestinian kids like me, and for all of Palestine because of the war that’s been going on right now.”
Ali, marching with his wife and eight-year-old daughter Aaliyah—whose cheeks were painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag—described the protest as “history in the making.” “This is a big moment,” he said. “The people shut down the Harbour Bridge—the people did it.”
The protest proceeded after the NSW Supreme Court ruled in favor of organizers who had been challenged by the state government. The Harbour Bridge, which had not been closed to public assembly since World Pride in 2023, became the symbolic site of one of the most powerful public repudiations of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
As the crowd approached police lines, organizer Mohammad Sharab urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. “Prove to the world that this is not a movement that will clash with police,” he said. “They are holding their guns, their weapons, against people who are protesting peacefully. Shame on Victoria Police, shame.”
Sharab condemned the portrayal of cease-fire advocates as extremists by media outlets and politicians. “We stand for justice,” he said. “We are not ashamed of it. For those who call us extremist and antisemitic for standing against genocide, these extreme comments make you the extremist. That’s my message to [Premier] Jacinta Allan.
Observers argued that the demonstration marks a critical shift in global public opinion. “One has to be blind not to see that Israel has completely lost the majority of the world—including in the West,” said Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the U.S.-based Quincy Institute, commenting on the footage of the protest. “No level of intimidation, surveillance, or threats can force the majority of humanity to support and defend apartheid and genocide.”
Australian political leaders also took part in the march, despite earlier resistance from state authorities. Five NSW Labor MPs joined the protest, as did ministers Penny Sharpe and Jihad Dib. Federal Labor MP Ed Husic, who was removed from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet in May, marched with demonstrators and reiterated his call for the federal government to sanction Israel and recognize Palestinian statehood.
“People power has come out, I think, largely because they just cannot abide the treatment that has been seen of little kids,” Husic said.
Abib, who marched across the bridge with her daughter, echoed the sentiment. “I think a lot of people are starting to wake up,” she said. “We’re going on two years [of war]. People that were quiet in the beginning have started to speak.”
The diversity of the crowd drew attention throughout the day. A crocheted banner woven by volunteers was unfurled on the bridge. A group of British men carried a sign that read “Gay Jews 4 Gaza.” Tourists atop the bridge’s steel arch waved to the protesters below, bearing witness to a moment that many saw as a pivotal act of resistance.
NSW Police acting deputy commissioner Peter McKenna described the event as the largest protest he had witnessed in Sydney. “Gee whiz, I wouldn’t like to try and do this every Sunday,” he said. “We’re very lucky today that the crowd was well behaved.”
Despite the weather and logistical challenges, the spirit of the protest remained one of determined solidarity. As rain continued to pour and puddles gathered underfoot, volunteers directed people around flood zones. Spirits stayed high, with participants taking the moment in stride.
Sharab, addressing the crowd and those watching around the world, summarized the movement’s purpose. “This is about peace and humanity,” he said. “We are calling for an end to genocide, for an end to starvation, and for justice.”
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