Sydney Harbour Bridge Closes as Nearly 100,000 Join Pro-Palestine March

An estimated 90,000 people participated in a large pro-Palestinian march across Sydney Harbour Bridge, despite heavy rain, in one of Australia's biggest rallies supporting Gaza. The protest, authorized by the Supreme Court just a day before, called for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, with chants demanding ceasefire and boycotts against Israel. Prominent figures including Julian Assange and federal MP Ed Husic attended, while organizers emphasized the global impact of the crisis and criticized the Australian government for lacking meaningful sanctions on Israel. The event caused significant traffic disruptions and marked the first closure of the bridge for a public demonstration since 2023. NSW Police monitored the rally closely but reported no arrests, with safety concerns initially raised but later overruled by the court. The peaceful march reflected deep divisions within Australia over the ongoing Middle East conflict and highlighted calls for international solidarity with Palestine.