On Sunday, August 24, 2025, cities across Australia and Europe became the stage for a dramatic wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and cultural activism, as hundreds of thousands rallied in support of Gaza amid mounting global concern over a declared famine in the region. From the packed streets of Melbourne and Sydney to the music fields outside Paris, the day was marked by passionate calls for action, heated debate, and a growing sense of urgency over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
According to organisers, more than 300,000 people participated in what they described as the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Australia’s history. The Palestine Action Group and other major Palestinian organising bodies joined forces, mobilising crowds in over 40 cities and towns nationwide. In Melbourne, organisers claimed a staggering 100,000 people filled the city centre, while police estimated a more conservative 10,000. Brisbane, too, saw its largest pro-Palestinian turnout ever, with organisers estimating 50,000 and Queensland Police suggesting a figure closer to 10,000.
The Brisbane protest began shortly after 1pm in Queens Gardens, with the crowd spilling onto surrounding streets and forcing road closures in the central business district. The march, originally planned to cross the Story Bridge, was rerouted to Musgrave Park after a court decision. The event drew a broad coalition of supporters, including union representatives from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. Queensland Greens leader Larissa Waters addressed the crowd, stating, "There are so many people here calling for peace, calling for sanctions on Israel just like we have on Russia, and calling for an end to the two-way arms trade." She added, "Australians are horrified that we are selling weapons components to the Israeli government; it's got to stop." Former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather and members of Brisbane’s Palestinian community also spoke, underscoring the diversity and depth of support.
In Melbourne, the demonstration marked the 97th consecutive rally in support of Gaza’s Palestinians. Bruce McPhate, a participant, explained, "What brought me here today is just the number of children being killed day after day after day. Anywhere else in the world it's never been acceptable and I just felt I needed to come here today to make that point." Police reported a peaceful event, though they noted minor incidents such as the use of smoke emitters in the crowd.
Sydney’s rally, which began at Hyde Park before marching to Belmore Park, saw thousands gather despite weather concerns. Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame delivered a passionate speech, asking, "Who is ready to resist? There is another force that power responds to, it is public pressure. If we can get 300,000 to block the bridge we can get three million." Journalist Antoinette Lattouf, who recently won an unlawful termination case, condemned the deaths of journalists in Gaza, stating, "One hundred and eighty-four Palestinian journalists and media workers slain since October 2023, compared to 18 in the entire Russia-Ukraine war. Western media continues to treat Palestinian lives as expendable, and Palestinian journalists as disposable; that it will be remembered not as a witness, but as an accomplice."
Elsewhere, Canberra’s Civic Square saw about 2,000 people gather for a largely peaceful protest. Independent senator David Pocock called on the government to impose stronger sanctions on Israel, saying, "As a middle power, we can and must be doing more. People care deeply, and they want a government that's actually going to listen and then act." In Hobart, thousands marched through the city, led by Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, and independent MP Andrew Wilkie. Perth’s city centre drew about 25,000, according to organisers, with calls to end the siege of Gaza echoing through the crowd. Adelaide’s Parliament House was the site of another major rally, with up to 15,000 demonstrators according to organisers—though police estimated 5,000—where Senator Fatima Payman and Robert Martin, previously detained by Israeli troops, addressed attendees.
This groundswell of public support coincided with grim news from Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the world’s leading authority on food crises, declared famine in Gaza City and warned that conditions were likely to worsen over the coming month. The IPC reported that nearly a quarter of Palestinians in Gaza—514,000 people—were starving, with famine conditions expected to affect 641,000 by the end of September. The organisation stressed that this was the first time it had recorded famine outside Africa. The United Nations estimated that more than 60,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, had died since October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages in Israel.
Israel, however, strongly rejected the famine declaration. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it an "outright lie," insisting, "Israel does not have a policy of starvation. Israel has a policy of preventing starvation. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has enabled two million tonnes of aid to enter the Gaza Strip, over one tonne of aid per person." Israeli officials argued that the IPC’s findings were based on biased data provided by Hamas and failed to account for recent increases in food deliveries. COGAT, the Israeli military agency overseeing aid, described the IPC report as "not only biased but also serves Hamas’ propaganda campaign."
Meanwhile, the pro-Palestinian movement found a cultural echo in Europe. On the same day, Irish rap group Kneecap performed at the Rock en Seine music festival near Paris, defying controversy over their outspoken support for Palestine and criticism of Israel’s Gaza campaign. The concert, which began shortly before 6:30pm in Saint-Cloud, drew several thousand attendees. Organisers kept Kneecap on the program despite objections from French Jewish groups and government officials, leading local authorities to withdraw subsidies totaling 40,000 euros. The wider Ile-de-France region also cancelled its funding for the 2025 edition, though the festival’s budget of 16–17 million euros ensured its viability.
Kneecap’s performance was briefly interrupted by protesters, who were removed by security. The group, known for their political activism, shouted "Free, free Palestine!" at the start of their set, insisting they were not against Israel as a nation. One member, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, faces a British terror charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November 2024—a flag the band claims was thrown on stage during their performance. The group has faced scrutiny at other festivals, including Glastonbury and Sziget, and has been barred from entering Hungary, a close Israeli ally. The concert took place against a backdrop of heightened sensitivity in France, where concerns about anti-Semitism have grown since the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli military actions. Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, criticized the concert, saying, "They are desecrating the memory of the 50 French victims of Hamas on October 7, as well as all the French victims of Hezbollah."
As the day’s events drew to a close, the sense of urgency and division remained palpable. The Australian and European protests—whether through marching feet or music’s beat—reflected a world grappling with the human cost of conflict, the limits of government action, and the power of public pressure to shape the course of history.
