Thousands march across Australia, demand 'permanent' cease-fire in Middle East

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets across Australia on Sunday, demanding a permanent cease-fire in the Middle East.

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland state, saw one of the largest protests in the city since the war between Israel and Hamas began a year ago, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Rallies were also held in Melbourne and Sydney.

The protesters also asked the government to sanction Israel and stop supplying weapons and munitions for the war.

The rally began in Brisbane before protesters walked across Victoria Bridge to South Bank.

Justice for Palestine Magan-djin representative Omar Ashour said the large turnout "reflects that there is a big base of pro-Palestinian supporters that has been built."

"We are calling for what we can impact here in Australia," he was quoted as saying by ABC.

Margie Pestorius, one of the protesters, said that the Australian government needs to do "more" before the war spreads further.

"It is very urgent. We need to see action from the government as soon as possible," she told the broadcaster

According to the Queensland police, the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, last week, reiterated the government's calls for a "temporary" cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also called for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Israel has mounted massive airstrikes across Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets since Sept. 23, killing at least 1,437 people, injuring over 4,123 others and displacing more than 1.34 million.

The aerial campaign is an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of its offensive on the Gaza Strip, in which Israel has killed nearly 42,200 victims, most of them women and children, since a Hamas attack last year.

Despite international warnings that the Mideast was on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, it expanded the conflict by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.