أستراليا تنتفض.. مسيرات حاشدة في 40 مدينة دعماً لفلسطين

The Australian city of Brisbane witnessed an unprecedented protest march today (Sunday), described as the largest in the city's history in support of the Palestinian cause, as thousands took to the streets to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people following the announcement of famine in the Gaza Strip for the first time.

The protest march was part of a national day of action that involved around 40 Australian cities and towns, organized by all the major pro-Palestine groups in the country.

These demonstrations come after a global hunger monitor declared a famine in the city of Gaza, warning of the possibility of it spreading to other areas in the coming month unless a ceasefire is reached and humanitarian aid is allowed to enter unrestricted, as the region has been suffering from a catastrophic humanitarian crisis since the war began in October 2023.

According to reports, the war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and injuries to hundreds, most of whom are children and women, in addition to the destruction of entire neighborhoods and the displacement of hundreds of thousands. These conditions have driven protesters in Australia and other countries to take to the streets demanding an immediate ceasefire, the imposition of sanctions on Israel, and an end to arms trading with it.

In Brisbane, protesters gathered in Queens Park in the city center, carrying Palestinian flags and signs condemning the war and calling for justice for Palestinians. Organizers estimated the number of participants at around 50,000, a figure described by the organization "Justice for Palestine Magan-Jin" as the largest in the city's history, while Queensland police estimated the number at around 10,000.

Ramah Naji, the spokesperson for the organization, stated that this demonstration is "the largest of its kind in Brisbane," noting that the large turnout reflects the anger of the Australian people over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He added that the authorities' decision to prevent protesters from crossing the Story Bridge for public safety reasons led organizers to choose an alternative route via the Victoria Bridge, which increased the enthusiasm of the participants.

Prominent figures participated in the march, including Greens leader Larissa Waters, who described the gathering as "the largest since the protests against the Iraq War," emphasizing that it reflects the feelings of the Australian people who are demanding their government make more efforts to support the Palestinians.

The demonstrations were not limited to Brisbane but extended to other Australian cities such as Melbourne and Sydney, where organizers estimated the number of participants in Melbourne at 100,000, while police estimated the number at 10,000. In Sydney, around 100,000 people participated according to organizers' estimates, and these protests received support from over 250 community organizations and unions, including unions from Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia.