Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge on Sunday in one of Australia’s largest anti-Israel protests since the October 7th massacre nearly 21 months ago.
Organized by the Sydney branch of the Palestine Action, the radical group recently banned in the UK for glorifying terrorism, the protest — branded the “March for Humanity” — was rife with antisemitic manifestations, while making no mention of Hamas and ignoring the plight of the Israeli hostages still being held on Gaza, including Evyatar David, who was seen in a Hamas propaganda video released on Friday emaciated and digging what he called his own grave.
Syndey protesters chanted “Long live the Intifada” — a slogan celebrating Palestinian terrorism — as well as “Death to the IDF” and “Free Palestine,” both clear calls for violence. At least one marcher carried a photo of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and others waved Palestinian flags, banged pots and pans, and shouted slogans including “We are all Palestinians.”
New South Wales Police estimated the crowd at up to 90,000, while organizers claimed as many as 300,000 took part. Authorities had initially sought to block the demonstration due to safety concerns and major traffic disruption, but a last-minute ruling by the state’s Supreme Court allowed it to proceed.
A similar protest was held in Melbourne, with police deployed across both cities.
Sunday’s march also took place amid a surge of antisemitism in Australia. In the October 7 aftermath, Australia’s Jewish community has endured threats, harassment, and violence — including repeated attacks on synagogues, Israeli-owned businesses, and the targeting of visibly Jewish individuals in public places.
At today’s protest in Sydney, women held signs saying:
“Zionists are neo-Nazis.”
“Never again means never again for anyone.”This is Holocaust inversion one of the sickest forms of antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/QZOCTx1GW6
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) August 3, 2025
🇦🇺 Sydney, today:
Singing “The IDF are terrorists” while waving an Al-Qaeda flag?
You can’t make this up. pic.twitter.com/xuMpppOlK7
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) August 3, 2025
In response to the proliferation of Jew-hatred in Australia, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) will co-host the 2025 Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in Gold Coast on Sept. 3-5. With more than 75 mayors and city leaders from across Australia expected to attend, the summit will provide practical tools, data, and partnership opportunities to effectively combat antisemitism and strengthen social cohesion at the local level.
