Wikipedia

List of pro-Palestinian protests in Australia

This is a list of pro-Palestinian protests in Australia including demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, direct actions, and campus encampments in support of Palestinian rights.

Demonstration in Melbourne, 15 October 2023.

List

Estimated attendance is either mentioned explicitly in the references or a midpoint is used, i.e., 50 when dozens are mentioned, 500 when hundreds are mentioned, and so on.

Pre-2023

Date City/town Estimated attendance Description Ref(s)
4 January 2009  Sydney 2,000 Demonstration in the city center in protest of Israel's attacks on Gaza. [1]
4 January 2009  Melbourne 3,000 Demonstration in the city center in protest of Israel's attacks on Gaza. About 500 pro-Israeli counter-protesters were present at a distance. [1]
19 March 2010  Melbourne 500 Demonstration and march through the city center in protest of Israel's latest attacks on Gaza. [2]
1 July 2011  Melbourne 19 Demonstration outside the Max Brenner chocolate shop in Queen Victoria Square calling for a boycott of Israeli companies. Ended with police intervention. Nineteen protesters were arrested. [3]
15 May 2021  Sydney 4,000 Demonstration and march the city center during Nakba Day. [4]
22 May 2021  Melbourne ? Demonstration outside the Town Hall. [5]

2023

Date City/town Estimated attendance Description Ref(s)
9 October 2023  Sydney 1,000 Demonstration to call on the Australian government to end support to Israel and march through the city's central business district towards the Sydney Opera House, which had been lit up with the colors of the Israeli flag to create a space "for Jews to mourn victims of the attacks in Israel". A small group lit flares and burned Israeli flags. [6][7]
15 October 2023  Sydney 6,000 Demonstration at Hyde Park. [8]
15 October 2023  Melbourne 10,000 Demonstration outside the State Library of Victoria. [8]
20 October 2023  Alice Springs ? Blocking of the entryway to the US spy base in Pine Gap, Northern Territory, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Ended with police intervention. One protester was arrested. [9]
31 October 2023  Victoria 50 Occupation of the Defence Minister Richard Marles' office in Geelong by Jewish activists demanding an end to military support for Israel. [10][11]
8 November 2023  Melbourne ? Blocking of a road to the Port of Melbourne to block cargo headed for Israel. [12]
10 November 2023  Melbourne 200 Demonstration after a Palestinian-owned fast food restaurant was burned down. About 200 pro-Israel counter-protesters were also present and there were some clashes. [13]
12 November 2023  Brisbane ? Demonstration and march in the city center. [14]
12 November 2023  Melbourne ? Demonstration and march in the city center. [14]
12 November 2023  Sydney ? Demonstration and march in the city center. [14]
21 November 2023  Sydney 400 Blocking of the Port Botany to protest against the unloading of an Israeli-owned shipping company vessel. Ended with police intervention. 23 protesters were arrested. [15]
23 November 2023  Adelaide ? School strike and demonstration outside Adelaide's parliament house. [16]
23 November 2023  Melbourne 1,000 School strike and sit-in at the Melbourne Central mall. [16]
24 November 2023  Brisbane ? School walkout. [16]
24 November 2023  Byron Bay ? School walkout. [16]
24 November 2023  Sydney ? School walkout. [16]
24 November 2023  Wollongong ? School walkout. [16]
26 November 2023  Melbourne 5,000 Demonstration in the city center. Senator Lidia Thorpe stated that Aboriginal Australians were sympathetic to the struggles of Palestinians. [17]
30 December 2023  Melbourne ? Die-in outside the offices of the newspaper The Age. [18]

2024

Date City/town Estimated attendance Description Ref(s)
22 January 2024  Melbourne 50 Blocking of an Israeli cargo ship from entering the Port of Melbourne. Ended with police intervention, including use of pepper spray, with around 200 police officers being deployed. A dozen of protesters were arrested. [19][20][21]
2 February 2024  Melbourne ? Blocking of the entrance to a factory producing parts for Israel's F-35 military jets. [22]
23 April 2024  Sydney 100 Encampment at the University of Sydney. Lasted until 17 June, with protesters disbanding on their own. [23][24]
25 April 2024  Melbourne ? Encampment at the University of Melbourne. There were several disruptions from pro-Israeli counter-protesters. Lasted until 22 May, with protesters disbanding on their own after the university agreed to disclose connections to weapons manufacturers. [25][26]
29 April 2024  Canberra ? Encampment at the Australian National University. One protest organizer was expelled. Lasted until 28 May, with protesters disbanding on their own after threats of police intervention. [27][28][29]
29 April 2024  Brisbane 100 Encampment at the University of Queensland. Lasted until 1 June, with protesters disbanding on their own after the university agreed to disclose ties to Israel and increase humanitarian scholarships for students affected by the war. [30][31][32]
1 May 2024  Melbourne ? Encampment at Monash University. There were several disruptions from pro-Israeli counter-protesters. Lasted until 17 May, with protesters disbanding on their own. [33][34][35]
1 May 2024  Adelaide ? Encampment at the University of Adelaide. Lasted until 28 May, with protesters disbanding on their own. [36][37][38]
8 May 2024  Western Australia 50 Protest outside the Crown Perth casino and resort, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was speaking at a business breakfast. Ended with police intervention. Greens senator Dorinda Cox alleged she was "manhandled" by police while protesting, saying that the police told her group to move and allegedly shoved her into the crowd while she was speaking. [39]
18 May 2024  Melbourne ? Disruption at Melbourne's Moonee Valley Racecourse, which was hosting the Victorian Labor Party's State Conference. The protest action delayed planned speeches by Albanese and Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan. [40]
19 May 2024  Melbourne 5,000 Protest outside the Victorian state parliament. Pro-Israeli counter-protesters were also present and there were clashes between the two groups. Ended with police intervention. Six protesters were arrested. [41][42]
4 July 2024  Canberra 4 Four pro-Palestine protestors climbed up the roof of the Parliament House for an hour before being arrested by police soon after. [43]
11 September 2024  Melbourne 1,500 Protest outside the Land Forces Expo, a military technology event. Ended with police intervention. Victoria Police claimed it was the largest deployment of police against a protest since 2000. 42 protesters were arrested. [44]
31 December 2024  Melbourne ? Demonstration at the Central Business District. During the demonstration, protesters entered a Starbucks café on Swanston Street, allegedly spitting at staff members and stealing merchandise. [45]

2025

Date City/town Estimated attendance Description Ref(s)
18 May 2025  Sydney ? Demonstration and march in the city center during Nakba Day. [46]
18 May 2025  Adelaide 200 Demonstration and march in the city to remember the Nakba. [46]
18 May 2025  Brisbane 300 Demonstration and march in the city to remember the Nakba. [46]
18 May 2025  Melbourne 5,000 Demonstration and march in the city to remember the Nakba. [46]
27 June 2025  Sydney 60 Protest outside a manufacturing facility in Belmore. Ended with police intervention. Multiple protesters were injured by police, including former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas who was severely injured in the eye. [47]
27 July 2025-28 July 2025  Wollongong 200 First overnight hour picket of arms company Bisalloy Steel [48]
3 August 2025  Sydney 225,000–300,000 Sydney Harbour Bridge protest. [49][50]
24 August 2025  Multiple 350,000 Over 40 pro-Palestinian rallies in multiple cities. These were organized shortly after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalating his personal attacks on Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese over the government's decision this month to recognize a Palestinian state. [51][52]
21 September 2025-22 September 2025  Wollongong 500 24 hour picket of arms company Bisalloy Steel [53]
9 October 2025  Northern Territory ? Several pro-Palestine protestors blocked 800 Australian and US contractors from entering Pine Gap, after activists stated that the base played a key role of assisting Israel's actions in Gaza. [54]
12 October 2025  Perth ? Demonstration in the city center. [55]
12 October 2025  Hobart ? Demonstration in the city center. [55]
12 October 2025  Darwin 100 Demonstration in the city center. [55]
12 October 2025  Coffs Harbour 220 Demonstration at Coffs Harbour jetty. [55]
12 October 2025  Canberra 300 Demonstration and march in the city center. [55]
12 October 2025  Melbourne 500 Demonstration and march in the city center. [55]
12 October 2025  Brisbane 1,000 Demonstration and march in the city center. [55]
12 October 2025  Adelaide 5,000 Demonstration at the Central Business District. [55]
12 October 2025  Sydney 8,000–10,000 Demonstration despite a prohibition order preventing the march towards the Opera House. Protesters criticized the ongoing Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank despite a ceasefire coming into effect two days earlier. [55][56]
7 December 2025  Wollongong 500 March across Sea Cliff Bridge from Coalcliff to Clifton [57]

[58]

2026

Date City/town Estimated attendance Description Ref(s)
9 February 2026  Melbourne 5,000 Demonstration outside of Flinders Street Railway Station with the protestors demanded an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory and against Isaac Herzog's visit to Australia. [59]
11 February 2026-13 February 2026  Wollongong 500 48 hour picket of arms company Bisalloy Steel [60]
12 February 2026  Sydney 5,000 Demonstration around Sydney Town Hall in protest of Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. Ended with police violence, including use of pepper spray, punching protesters, and forcibly removing a group of Muslim protesters while they were praying on the ground. 27 protesters were arrested. [61][62]
12 February 2026  Melbourne 5,000 March through Melbourne's CBD to the Parliament of Victoria in protest of Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. [63][64]
18 April 2026  Brisbane 100+ Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered near the Supreme Court to protest against Queensland's hate speech laws. Police later arrested 20 people after chanting the banned phrase "from the river to the sea". [65][66]
17 May 2026  Melbourne 500 March from the State Library to Flinders Street railway station to commemorate Nakba Day. [67]
26 May 2026  Canberra 50–80 Demonstrators staged a protest at the Parliament House in Canberra, with the protestors knelt on the floor with hands behind the back to replicate the detained members of the Global Sumud Flotilla that were held by Israel. [68]
14 June 2026-17 June 2026  Wollongong 1000 72 hour picket of arms company Bisalloy Steel. One protester was arrested. [69]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Thousands attend Gaza demonstrations in Sydney and Melbourne | News.com.au Top stories | News.com.au". www.news.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Murphy, Maureen Clare (23 March 2010). "In Australia, a day of solidarity with Palestine". The Electronic Intifada. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Victory for Australia's boycott campaign as charges of blockading chocolate store dropped". BDS. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "Thousands take to the streets of Sydney and Melbourne in support of Palestinians". ABC News. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Black Australia to Palestine: solidarity in decolonial struggle – IndigenousX". indigenousx.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Friedman, Gabe; Kaltmann, Nomi (11 October 2023). "Sydney government apologizes for pro-Palestinian protest that included 'gas the Jews' chants". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Pro-Palestine protesters chant 'Gas the Jews' outside Sydney Opera House". The Daily Telegraph. 10 October 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 January 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. 1 2 "Thousands turn out for pro-Palestinian rallies in Melbourne and Sydney after week of tension". ABC News. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Gardiner, Stephanie (20 October 2023). "Pro-Palestine activists block entry to Pine Gap base". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Cassidy, Caitlin (1 November 2023). "'Ceasefire now': Australian Jewish group holds vigils for peace in Sydney and Melbourne". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Jewish activists occupy Australian defence minister's office". Al Jazeera English. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Australian arms exports to Israel in focus amid court case, port protests". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Crowe, Alex (11 November 2023). "Police to step up patrols after violent protest near burnt-out Caulfield shop". The Age. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 Knaus, Christopher (12 November 2023). "Thousands call for Gaza ceasefire at Australian protests while pro-Israel rally demands release of hostages". Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "NSW Police charge 23 pro-Palestinian activists over protest against Israeli shipping line ZIM at Sydney's Port Botany". ABC News. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McIntyre, Iain (7 September 2019). ""When the bombs drop, school stops" - Over 100 years of Australian school strikes and direct action". The Commons Social Change Library. Archived from the original on 31 January 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  17. ↑ Dexter, Rachael (26 November 2023). "'We know your pain': Lidia Thorpe addresses thousands at Free Palestine rally". WA Today. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Activists stage 'die-in' outside Australian newspaper offices". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Protesters block access to Israeli cargo ship in Melbourne". Al Jazeera English. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "Australia's pro-Palestinian activists to continue targeting Israeli ships". Al Jazeera English. 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  21. ↑ Charles, Briana. "Australia's pro-Palestinian activists to continue targeting Israeli ships". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Protesters in Australia block access to arms factory supplying Israeli military". Al Jazeera English. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "Pro-Palestinian protests reach Australia". Al Jazeera English. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  24. ↑ "Pro-Palestinian students pack up protest camp after University of Sydney issues order to move on". ABC News. 17 June 2024. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  25. ↑ Groch, Sherryn (2 May 2024). "Across a university moat, pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups face off". The Age. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  26. ↑ "Pro-Palestinian protesters end Melbourne university encampment after claiming 'major win'". ABC News. 22 May 2024. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  27. ↑ Dumas, Daisy (1 May 2024). "Australian university students are camping out in support of Gaza. Here's what you need to know". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  28. ↑ Cassidy, Caitlin; reporter, Caitlin Cassidy Education (6 June 2024). "ANU student expelled after saying Hamas deserved 'unconditional support' during radio interview". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  29. ↑ Cassidy, Caitlin; Ittimani, Luca (28 May 2024). "Pro-Palestine protesters at ANU move campus camp by 50 metres ahead of noon deadline". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ↑ "Pro-Palestinian protesters are peaceful here, say university bosses". Australian Financial Review. 29 April 2024. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  31. ↑ Whiteman, Hilary; Watson, Angus (2 May 2024). "Australian student protests show US campus divisions over Gaza war are going global". CNN. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  32. ↑ Pollock, Aidan Elwig (1 June 2024). "UQ Gaza solidarity encampment set to end". Honi Soit. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  33. ↑ Cassidy, Caitlin; Ittimani, Luca (2 May 2024). "'A vital moment': Australian pro-Palestine campus protesters vow to stay on as tensions brew". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ↑ "Peaceful pro-Palestine encampments must be better protected by universities and police". Australian Greens Victoria. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  35. ↑ "Pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Melbourne vow to stay, after Monash encampment packs up". ABC News. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  36. ↑ "Pro-Palestinian students to set up encampment at Uni Adelaide - InDaily". www.indaily.com.au. 1 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  37. ↑ Heywood-Smith, Paul (30 May 2024). "Student protesters have done honour to themselves, and their University". Pearls and Irritations. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  38. ↑ "Adelaide Uni Gaza campers pack up but 'we're not giving up'". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 28 May 2024.
  39. ↑ "'Police manhandled me': Senator's claim". News Corp Australia. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via Yahoo News.
  40. ↑ "Victorian Labor State Conference stormed by pro-Palestinian protesters as venue locked down". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  41. ↑ "6 arrests after police clash with pro-Palestinian, pro-Israel protesters in Melbourne CBD". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  42. ↑ "Six arrested after pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations meet in Melbourne's CBD". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  43. ↑ Hobson, Peter; Pal, Alasdair (4 July 2024). "Four pro Palestine protesters arrested for scaling roof of Australia's parliament". Reuters. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "Police maintain presence at Melbourne defence expo as human rights groups condemn 'excessive' force". ABC News. 11 September 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  45. ↑ Bourke, Ryan (1 January 2025). "Protesters allegedly spit on barista in NYE rally". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Ortolan, Mikaela; Lavelle, Laura; Landau, Sophie (18 May 2025). "Thousands protest through the streets of Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane to commemorate the Nakba". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  47. ↑ "'Critical incident' declared after ex-Greens candidate injured during protest arrest". ABC News. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  48. ↑ https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/9027181/largest-picket-yet-at-bisalloy-as-gaza-crisis-intensifies/
  49. ↑ Wilson, Tabby (3 August 2025). "Pro-Palestine march closes Sydney Harbour Bridge". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  50. ↑ Grieve, Charlotte and McMillan, Ashleigh (3 August 2025). "Pro-Palestine protesters disperse after CBD rally culminates on Melbourne bridge". The Age. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  51. ↑ "Widespread protests held in Australia to support Palestinians". Reuters. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  52. ↑ "Tens of thousands march in Australia, demand end to Gaza war, sanctions on Israel". The Times of Israel. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  53. ↑ https://regionillawarra.com.au/picketers-halt-work-at-unanderra-factory/38552/
  54. ↑ Wood, Richard (9 October 2025). "Pro-Palestinian protesters target Pine Gap spy base". Nine News. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  55. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Thousands join pro-Palestinian rallies in towns and cities across Australia amid ceasefire". ABC News. 12 October 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  56. ↑ "Australia pro-Palestinian rally draws tens of thousands, scepticism on ceasefire". Reuters. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  57. ↑ "Sea Cliff Bridge shuts to traffic as protesters march in support of Palestine". Illawarra Mercury. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  58. ↑ Lasek, Jeremy (8 December 2026). "Organisers ecstatic at big numbers for Sea Cliff Bridge pro Palestine rally". The Illawarra Flame. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  59. ↑ "'War criminal not welcome': Australians rally against Israeli president". Al Jazeera. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  60. ↑ https://www.theillawarraflame.com.au/wollongongs-friends-of-palestine-hold-family-friendly-picket/
  61. ↑ "Thousands rally around Australia as protests against Herzog's visit turn violent— as it happened". 8 February 2026 – via www.abc.net.au.
  62. ↑ "Police hit back at protesters after shock videos at anti-Herzog rally in Sydney". News.com.au. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  63. ↑ Aldred, Max (12 February 2026). "Anti-Herzog rally swelled to '5,000' as Victoria Police employ very different tactic to NSW". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  64. ↑ Burton, Melanie; Pal, Alasdair (12 February 2026). "Protests dog Israeli president's last day in Australia". Reuters. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  65. ↑ "Protesters arrested at Brisbane pro-Palestine rally featuring banned phrase". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 April 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  66. ↑ Kruk, Courtney; Deguara, Brittney (19 April 2026). "More than 20 arrested as hundreds gather to demand end to hate-speech laws". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  67. ↑ "Protesters march at Nakba Day rallies around Australia". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  68. ↑ Sharma, Yashee (26 May 2026). "Aussies detained by Israel join dozens of protesters at Parliament House". Nine News. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  69. ↑ "Alleged assault, fines and a viral video: how the 72-hour Unanderra steel protest unfolded". Illawarra Mercury. 17 June 2026. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
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