Australia: Thousands demonstrate in Sydney in support of Gaza, denouncing its starvation

SANAA, Aug. 03 (YPA) – Thousands of demonstrators participated in a massive march over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge,on Sunday, in support of the besieged Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of the ongoing Israeli aggression and the unprecedented humanitarian crisis it has caused.

Participants in the demonstration, entitled “March for Humanity,” raised slogans calling for peace and an immediate end to the war, as well as the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.

A large number of participants carried empty cooking pots as a symbol of hunger.

Among the participants was WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

New South Wales Police, with the support of the state’s premier, tried last week to prevent the march from crossing the bridge, arguing that crossing the road might cause security risks and disrupt traffic. However, the state’s Supreme Court ruled on Saturday to allow the march to proceed.

State police said they deployed hundreds of officers to secure the march and called on demonstrators to remain peaceful. In addition, a similar demonstration took place simultaneously in Melbourne, confirming the growing public solidarity in Australia with the Palestinian cause.

This popular movement comes amid mounting international pressure on the Israeli occupation government.

France and Canada have announced that they will recognize a Palestinian state, while Britain said it will take a similar step if Israel does not adhere to a ceasefire and address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

For his part, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated his support for the “two-state solution,” noting that Israel’s position on preventing the entry of aid and causing the death of civilians “cannot be defended or ignored,” but he did not recognize the State of Palestine.