TENS of thousands gathered in Perth on Sunday, filling Forrest Place before marching through the city to Hyde Park in a massive show of solidarity with Palestinians.
The sound of drums, chants of “Free Palestine” and banners bright against the grey sky set the tone for the march.
The mood was urgent, determined, and overwhelmingly human — people standing together to demand an end to the killing of civilians and a permanent ceasefire.
The crowd, an estimated 20,000–30,000, stretched from Forrest Place down William Street to Hyde Park, a historic civic space in the heart of the city.
• While The West tried to cook up an internal Labor squabble, tens of thousands of Western Australians were more interested in stopping the slaughter in Gaza. Photos by Jens Kirsch
Families with prams, students, union members, medical professionals in their scrubs, and members of the Jewish community joined together under a common banner: justice for Palestine.
Sophie McNeill, Greens MLC, who spoke at the rally, described the scene as “spine-chilling”.
“Forrest Place was packed to the rafters, even in the rain and with a Dockers game on,” Ms McNeill said.
“The most incredible thing was how many people told me it was their first rally — and that they’ll come again.
“People care deeply about what’s happening in Gaza, and they don’t want Australia to be complicit.
Sanctions
“Mainstream Australia is moving in the direction of demanding sanctions on Israel, stopping the horrific new offensive, and expelling the Israeli ambassador.”
Students for Palestine WA organiser Ella Marchionda said though the crowd was peaceful, there was anger and passion.
lighted the energy of Perth’s turnout.
“Just standing alongside tens of thousands of people fighting for an end to oppression — it’s honestly hard to describe unless you were there.”
Chantelle Ní Chróinín, a medical professional who previously worked in Yemen and Palestine, said Sunday’s march reminded her of the same sense of community she experienced while living in the Middle East.
“We were a large cohort — much bigger than I expected — from diverse backgrounds but with shared values of humanity and justice that brought us together. It was heart-warming and hopeful,” she said.
• Numbers at the march have been estimated between 20,000 and 30,000 people. Photos by Jens Kirsch
The rally was part of a nationwide day of action, following the massive March for Humanity across Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier in August.
Demonstrations took place in around 40 cities and towns across Australia, all calling for sanctions and a two-way arms embargo.
Jews for Palestine WA founding member Janet Parker said she felt a responsibility to dispel the deliberate “obfuscation” that opposition to Israel’s war was antisemitic.
“We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people because they are facing one of the cruellest genocides in modern history,” Ms Parker said.
“Not in Our Name. The lesson of the Holocaust meant ‘Never Again’ — and that means never again for anyone, anywhere.”
• Greens MLC Sophie McNeill addresses the crowd.
One participant, who asked to remain anonymous, said being part of a huge protest crowd brought a reality to the experience that couldn’t be captured by the media.
“It’s overwhelming, in the best way; a single person, yet part of something much bigger.”
Ms Ní Chróinín said the grief was palpable.
Anguish
“I could see anguish and anger in the faces of the crowd, and hear the frustration with our leaders after almost two years of this man-made suffering.
“Thankfully, this movement holds a space for grief and anger to be channelled in a peaceful and productive way.”
Friends of Palestine WA reminded participants that the march took place on stolen Whadjuk Noongar land — sovereignty never ceded — underscoring the local history of civic action and resistance.
Marchers also called for Australia to expel the Israeli ambassador.
As the crowd flowed into Hyde Park, speakers urged continued engagement: from workplaces to schools to local communities, the message was clear — activism does not end when the march does.
According to UNICEF, more than 320,000 children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition in Gaza, and thousands are already suffering severe consequences as critical services collapse.
• Janet Parker (centre) marching with Jews for Palestine.
Forrest Place, created in 1923, has long served as a hub for political gatherings and public demonstrations in Perth, and with Hyde Park has become a key for civic engagement and public expression.
As people dispersed from Hyde Park, the sense lingered that this was more than just a protest. It was a vivid reminder that the collective voice of ordinary people — students, professionals, families, and activists — can shine a light on injustice and demand accountability.
Organisers stressed the need to keep up pressure and have indicated plans for future rallies and actions to continue advocating for Palestinian rights and justice.
Ms Ms Ní Chróinín said there was greater awareness of the Australian governments’ complicity aim the war through trade and arms deals with the Israeli state.
“This is not something we want to stand for,” she said.
“The rise in the solidarity movement, with strong demands for sanctions, seems to reflect this.”
For more information and updates, visit Friends of Palestine WA’s website or follow their Instagram page.
by JENS KIRSCH