SYDNEY, August 3, 2025 (WAFA) – Tens of thousands of people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, braving cold and rainy weather to call for an immediate end to the Israeli genocide and starvation policies in Gaza and to raise awareness of the worsening humanitarian crisis, particularly the starvation of children.
The landmark bridge was closed to traffic at 11:30 a.m., as demonstrators gathered in Lang Park in central Sydney before walking north toward Bradfield Park on the other side of the harbour.
The protest, organized by the Palestine Action Group, drew massive crowds. While police informed organizers that approximately 100,000 people were present, a spokesperson for the group estimated attendance at closer to 300,000.
This marks the first time the Harbour Bridge has been closed for a public demonstration since the 2023 World Pride march, which drew around 50,000 participants.
The protest comes amid growing international condemnation of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, where the death toll continues to rise and a strict blockade has led to widespread famine. Australia is facing increasing pressure to recognize Palestinian statehood, following recent announcements from France, Canada, and the UK that they may do so – with conditions – at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September.
Of note, The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen amid an ongoing Israeli blockade that has resulted in severe shortages of food and medical supplies. Since March 2, 2025, Israeli authorities have kept all border crossings with Gaza closed, preventing the entry of much needed humanitarian aid, which has accelerated the spread of famine across the enclave.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) previously warned that malnutrition rates among children under five have doubled between March and June due to the continued blockade.
The World Health Organization also confirmed that malnutrition levels in Gaza have reached alarming levels, attributing the loss of many lives to the deliberate restriction of aid. Nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City is now suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the agency said.
The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 2023 has so far resulted in at least 60,430 documented Palestinian fatalities, with over 148,722 others injured.
Thousands of victims are feared trapped under rubble, inaccessible to emergency and civil defense teams due to Israeli attacks.
Israel's genocidal attacks continue unabated despite calls from the UN Security Council for an immediate ceasefire and directives from the International Court of Justice urging measures to prevent genocide and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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