'We're not alone': People in Gaza are reacting to 'best march' on Harbour Bridge
"We know what is happening outside and we are following everything. The best march I have seen is the bridge march," he told SBS News.
Mohammed Hamad and his daughter Hira saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge protest from Gaza. Credit: X/ Mohammed Hamad NSW Police said initial estimates put the crowd at 90,000 while rally organisers, the Palestine Action Group, estimated the figure was closer to 300,000.
'We are not alone' Tamer Nahed, a web developer from north Gaza, wrote on social media that witnessing the "massive protest" gave his parents a sense of hope. "I showed them the massive protests that took place in Sydney. I told them, there are still people who care about us. We are not alone," he wrote on X.
"We watched together as people stood in the rain, in this cold weather, chanting for us — for justice, for truth. And in my parents' eyes, I saw something that had been missing for a long time … I saw hope return, even if just a little."
Nahed expressed his gratitude towards the protesters, writing that he often feels forgotten by the world when watching the news.
"Thank you to everyone who marched today, to everyone who raised their voice for us. You didn't do it in vain. You gave us something that words can't fully capture," he wrote.
More protests ahead, organisers say One of the organisers told reporters more protests are being planned, but that a repeat crossing of the Sydney Harbour Bridge won't happen anytime soon, according to the Australian Associated Press.
Palestine Action Group's organiser Joshua Lees said on Sunday: "We want to build on this massive momentum we have now."
"His stance is pretty clear and he's passed a raft of anti-protest legislation already," Lees said. "We're going to have to keep fighting for our rights to demonstrate." Speaking to ABC radio on Tuesday morning, Minns said he accepted the reason for the protest, but that "common sense has to play a role". "I'm not questioning the motives of many of the protesters. I accept that this is a protest that many people want to have," he said.
"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."
'An extraordinary march' Speaking about the protest, Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged the anger and distress felt by some Australians. "That was an extraordinary march and I think it demonstrates what we all feel," she told the ABC's 7.30 program. "I know that Australians are feeling distressed, angry, upset, really horrified by what they're seeing in Gaza. I certainly share that distress. So do ministers in the government." The Palestine Action Group said it is planning a national day of action scheduled for 24 August, along with more protests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
a few seconds ago
- SBS Australia
'It's a long game': International student cap increase welcomed, despite housing caveat
The addition of 25,000 student enrolments for next year has been welcomed by the university sector, despite questions about how to unlock the placements. On Monday, Education Minister Jason Clare announced a National Planning Level of 295,000 international student places for 2026 to manage growth in a "sustainable" way. The government will issue a new direction for the changes, replacing Ministerial Direction 111, which acted as a de facto cap and enabled it to reduce numbers by slowing visa processing and assigning quotas for international students to each university. Clare announced two caveats for universities to gain additional placements: student housing and a focus on Southeast Asian neighbours. Education Minister Jason Clare has increased international university numbers by 9 per cent for 2026. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), welcomed the 9 per cent increase but highlighted that the levels were still lower than during the pandemic. "Any increase in the enrolment figures from the government is very welcome ... however, it's patchy," he told SBS News. "Our English language colleges are collapsing as we speak because of the combination of high student visa fees and just a concern that the future for Australian international education is not fantastic." Regional Universities Australia CEO Alec Webb reacted to the news with "positivity", praising the fact that "no university will go backwards in 2026". "It definitely signals that Australia is still open for business, and Australia should still be a destination that is being considered for prospective international students," Webb told SBS News. New housing critical to extra placements Universities will have to demonstrate stronger engagement with Southeast Asia and progress in providing secure student accommodation for both local and international students in order to apply for an increase in their allocation. While Honeywood encouraged the pivot to closer neighbours such as Thailand and Indonesia — "great student source markets" — he expressed concern about housing backlogs. "It's taking purpose-built student accommodation companies anything up to three years to get a project approved and commence construction. So it's a long game," he said. It's a concern also expressed by Webb, who hopes universities will get clarity around housing expectations soon, as well as more information about how the 25,000 placements will be split between metro and regional universities. "Obviously, that can't be a new site build, there is an incredible amount of delay and lag associated with not only obtaining the planning permissions, but also with the actual construction itself," he said. "So we're very keen to work with the department and the government to better understand what the expectation is in regards to securing the supply of housing." SBS News has contacted Clare for comment. The focus on housing reflects the intersection between education and migration, a point exacerbated during the federal election campaign. Australia 'the least worst' option The sector has repeatedly raised concerns that the ongoing debate about international student numbers is deterring prospective students from choosing Australia, delivering a blow to the $34 billion a year industry. However, Honeywood says Australia can capitalise on recent disruption to the global market caused by Donald Trump's presidency in the United States. "Australia's been very fortunate that other countries we compete against, particularly Canada, Donald Trump's USA now and the UK are also winding back on international student recruitment," he said. "And therefore when students are thinking which country to go and study at, they're obviously seeing that Australia is in many cases the least worst when it comes to their ability to access education." From tariffs to university education, experts argue that President Donald Trumphas created global uncertainty that Australia can capitalise off. Source: AP / Evan Vucci This week's announcement outlines capacity for 2026 ahead of new legislation, subject to passing, which will establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission. The body will oversee student caps and university allocations, balancing which courses and skills are needed and hopes to provide stability to the sector from 2027.
ABC News
a few seconds ago
- ABC News
Man who threatened politicians online long sought care for autism, court told
A man who bombarded politicians with "extraordinary" threats and antisemitic messages was desperate for help and support for autism, his lawyers say. The Melbourne man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, formally pleaded guilty to sending threats to federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser and Victorian Labor MP Gabrielle Williams. The 33-year-old was charged after his home was raided by counterterrorism officers from the Australian Federal Police's (AFP) Special Operation Avalite on February 6. Police alleged he sent death threats and antisemitic messages to Mr Leeser, who is Jewish and represents the seat of Berowra in northern Sydney. The 33-year-old also twice sent "a threatening email via an online contact form" to Ms Williams, Victoria's transport minister, according to charge sheets. The incidents took place between January 13 and 31. On Tuesday, the man faced the Assessment and Referral Court in Melbourne, a jurisdiction of the magistrates' court that sees people who have underlying factors that contribute to their offending behaviours, such as autism. Details of the man's offending were not aired before Magistrate Vincent Caltabiano, however earlier this year another magistrate, Brett Sonnet, described the messages sent to the politicians as "extraordinary communications". On Tuesday, the court heard the man had agreed to a support plan and had been attending weekly appointments. "It's stuff I've needed for years," he told Magistrate Caltabiano. "It's bizarre it had to come this far. "Even if I do work, I can't afford rent and bills and a psychologist and food." Defence lawyer Jackson McLeod said his client had been "banging his head against a brick wall" trying to get support. "In a sense, it's coming too late," Mr McLeod said. Magistrate Caltabiano, who is yet to sentence the man, extended his bail until September. The offices of Mr Leeser and Ms Williams have been contacted for comment. During Tuesday's hearing, the man was repeatedly told by the magistrate to mind his language. While leaving the court precinct, he stuck his middle finger up at reporters and swore at them. In April, the man's legal team told the court he had been diagnosed with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that affects the way people communicate and interact with others. Amaze, the Victorian peak body for people with autism, said at least one per cent of the population lives with the disorder. Previously, the man's legal team successfully applied for a suppression order preventing publication of his name until the end of the case, arguing his mental health would be in danger if his name was released to the media. During April's hearing, Magistrate Sonnet told the man that the suppression order would eventually be lifted. "These types of offences are becoming more prevalent and they're not uncommon," he said. "Threats and these types of communications are often received by politicians." The AFP said threats increased by 42 per cent in 2023-24 on the previous year, with more than 1000 reports of nuisance, harassment, and threatening communications. In a submission to the federal government last year, Amaze's chief executive David Tonge said there was evidence problematic internet use may be more prevalent in autistic people, but more research was needed. "There is also evidence that neurodivergent young people, including autistic young people, may be more involved in cyberbullying (as victims and perpetrators) compared to their typically developing peers," he wrote. "While best practice is yet to be established on how to best protect autistic people online, a multifaceted approach is clearly required. "It must include targeted information and resources for autistic people and their parents and carers (and for students and their teachers), as well as online safety mechanisms and regulatory measures."
News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Melbourne man accused of sending death threats, anti-Semitic remarks to Australian politicians
A Melbourne man accused of sending death threats to a federal lawmaker is working with authorities on a support plan to address his underlying issues, a court has been told. The 33-year-old from Reservoir, in the city's north, was arrested on February 6 as part of an investigation by the AFP-led Special Operation Avalite – set up in the wake of the Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing late last year to probe anti-Semitic threats and violence to Australia's Jewish community and parliamentarians. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with four counts of using a carriage service to menace and one count of using a carriage service to threaten to kill. According to the AFP, it's alleged he used social media and email to make death threats and anti-Semitic comments towards a NSW-based federal MP between January 16 and 18 this year. The man is also alleged to have made threats to a Victorian state MP the same month over social media. He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday for a short hearing after his case was referred to the Assessment and Referral Court (ARC). According to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria website, the ARC aims to assist people with complex mental health conditions receive support for up to 12 months before sentencing. 'ARC's therapeutic approach increases participants' engagement with the court process while providing treatment and support tailored to their needs and to address the underlying causes of their offending,' the website states. During the hearing, Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano left the bench to sit around a large oval-shaped desk with the accused man, his lawyer Jackson McLeod, a police prosecutor and court support services in a less formal setting. The court was told the man was engaging with support services to develop an individual support plan and access treatment needs. 'A lot of this stuff I've needed for years; its kind of irritating it's come this far,' he said. The accused man complained about his support worker, saying he'd avoided her recently because 'all she wants to do is drug me' and repeatedly mentioned an ex-boyfriend who, he said, had thrown his life into disarray. Mr Caltabiano said he was not going to pretend the ARC process would make things 'rosy' for the accused man, but the hope was his personal situation would improve. 'What I see in here is a number of things that hopefully if they can come together means some of these challenges become less significant,' the magistrate said after reviewing case notes. The accused man will return to court in a month for another case management check-in.
