NSW Police deny pro-Palestinian protesters permission to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Palestine Action Group informed police of its intention to hold a March for Humanity on Sunday and said using the landmark would send a "powerful message" over concerns about mass starvation in Gaza.
Humanitarian groups say far more is needed to feed the roughly 2 million people inside the Gaza Strip, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza".
NSW Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said organisers wanted to close the bridge to allow up to 10,000 to cross, but there was not enough time to do it safely.
"The main rationale behind that, it's quite clearly public safety," he said.
"It would have a major disruption and effect on thousands of motorists … [it] would be a public safety risk that we cannot manage at this point in time."
He said authorities were open to an alternative location.
Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees told ABC Radio Sydney ahead of the decision that the bridge had been closed previously for events like a World Pride march, the Sydney Marathon and a Hollywood movie, and hinted at a court challenge.
"The process now is if the police or the government want to stop us from doing it, they have to take us to the Supreme Court and if they do that, we'll fight that in court," he said.
Acting Deputy Commissioner McKenna said police would take the matter to the courts if organisers insisted on trying to go ahead with the march across the bridge.
He said protesters who attempted to cross the bridge on the weekend risked prosecution.
"If people do attend on Sunday they do not have the protections they would normally have on public assemblies," he said.
"I do not have the protections under the Summary Offences Act and they may face themselves being caught up in a situation where they are lawfully moved on and if offences are committed, arrested and charged.
"We don't want that."
Premier Chris Minns earlier acknowledged "widespread community concern about the humanitarian aid and war situation in Gaza", but said Sydney protesters will have to find somewhere else to make their point.
"I want the killing to stop as well, and I'm particularly concerned, like a lot of people, about the number of innocent children that have been killed," he said on Tuesday morning.
"I accept that this is a protest that many people want to have.
"My argument here is I can't close down the central artery for a city as big as Sydney, even on a short term basis, but even if we had a massive heads-up to do it."
Mr Minns asked organisers to work with authorities to settle on an alternative route for the protest.
Acting Deputy Commissioner McKenna said police were open to working with the Palestine Action Group on another location for the demonstration, as it had more than 100 times for pro-Palestinian rallies in recent years.
He denied the premier's comments influenced the police decision.
"The premier has come out and stated he didn't support it. On this occasion, after our deliberations, after we looked at the public safety, it turns out we're in complete agreeance," Acting Deputy Commissioner McKenna said.
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