Supporters of Palestine have marked 100 days of war in the Middle East with a rally calling on Australia to support South Africa’s International Court of Justice Case declaring genocide.
The demonstration was part of a Global Day of Action for Gaza.
“For 100 days Israel has bombed and invaded Gaza, causing mass death, destruction and misery,” Friends of Palestine spokesman Nick Everett said.
“More than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, including more than 9000 children.
"Sixty thousand have been injured and two million displaced.”
Israel declared war in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas - declared a terrorist group by Australia - in which some 1200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 250 hostages taken.
Mr Everett said Australia had been silent on South Africa presenting its case at the International Court of Justice in the Hague on Thursday.
Worse, it had backed a United States attack on Yemen in what he called "a deliberate attempt to distract from Israel’s crimes and provoke a regional conflict”.
Sunday's gathering outside Melbourne's State Library was addressed by Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union national secretary Christy Cain.
Other speakers included former ABC and SBS Middle East reporter Sophie McNeill, Gaza Palestinian Ayman Qwaider and Centre for Asylum Seekers, Detainees and Refugees board member Michael van Koesweld.
Protesters gathered in Adelaide and Sydney on Saturday, while children were among thousands who made their way through central London.
Major weekend rallies were also staged in Paris, Rome, Milan, Dublin and cities across the US.
