Massive pro-Palestinian protests erupted worldwide today against the ongoing war and famine in Gaza. In Sydney, tens of thousands of people marched across the Harbour Bridge in solidarity with Palestine. Among them were WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, and retired footballer Craig Foster.

In Melbourne, 25,000 people joined a similar rally. These protests followed growing global calls for Palestine’s official recognition. In late July, 15 countries, including Australia, urged formal recognition, with France planning to do so at the UN in September.

Protests also spread beyond Australia. In Cape Town, South African women from the Mothers4Gaza movement held a silent protest, condemning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They held signs and images of starving children, demanding an end to what they called genocide.