Pro-Palestinian protesters have promised no let-up in their marches through central Sydney, despite the prospect of a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict opening the way for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners from Monday.
Rally organisers had accepted a route for the march from Hyde Park to Belmore Park near Central Station after NSW’s top court last week blocked protesters descending on the Opera House forecourt amid police warning of the potential for a crowd crush.
The march came ahead of a peace ceremony in Egypt on Monday and the start of the exchange of the remaining Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip for Palestinian prisoners.
Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees said Sunday’s rally, attended by an estimated 8000 people, would not be the last because, while the plan outlined by US president Donald Trump hopefully delivered some reprieve for Palestinians, it would not result in peace for the people of Gaza.
“In future, we’ll be definitely having more Palestinian demonstrations,” he said.
“[The latest ceasefire is] certainly not going to deliver peace to the Palestinians, let alone a life for the Palestinians, because it’s a plan for ongoing occupation.”
A small flotilla of yachts and motorboats sporting Israel and Australian flags passed by the Opera House on Sunday.Credit: Edwina Pickles
A 30-year-old man was arrested at the rally on the intersection of George and Liverpool streets at about 3.20pm for allegedly possessing a sharpened stick. Two people at the protest needing medical assistance were treated by paramedics.
Ahead of the march, fellow organiser Amal Naser told the crowd gathered in Hyde Park that it was disappointing that the highest court in the state had banned them from walking to the Opera House. “But that didn’t stop us,” she said, citing the protesters who turned up on Sunday.
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