Thousands join pro-Palestinian protest on Sydney Harbour bridge

New Delhi, Aug 3: Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge was brought to a standstill on Sunday as tens of thousands marched in a large-scale pro-Palestinian demonstration, following a last-minute authorisation by the New South Wales Supreme Court. Despite heavy rain, the "March for Humanity" went ahead after the court dismissed a police bid to prohibit the event, citing insufficient justification for a ban on public assembly reports BBC and international media.

The peaceful protest, organised by the Palestine Action Group, saw families, activists, and prominent public figures take to the bridge, with many holding placards and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Among those present were WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, federal MP Ed Husic, and former NSW Premier Bob Carr, reports BBC.

Police, including members of the riot squad, were stationed along the route to manage the crowd. Two hours into the march, NSW Police issued a public safety alert via text message, directing participants to halt movement northward and return toward the city in an orderly manner.  The demonstration marks the first time the Harbour Bridge has been closed for a public protest since the 2023 World Pride march. Transport for NSW warned of major traffic disruptions throughout Sydney due to the closure. The court ruling, delivered just 24 hours before the event, stated that while safety concerns were valid, the organisers had presented a compelling case for urgency in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The ruling also protected attendees from potential charges under public assembly laws. The protest comes amid growing international calls for the recognition of Palestinian statehood. In recent weeks, France, Canada, and the UK have signalled conditional support for recognition ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September. In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated that Australia would not be pressured into a decision and emphasised the need for a lasting security framework in the region.