On Sunday 11th October 2026, thousands of people participated in coordinated rallies held in capital cities and regional centres across Australia in support of the Global Day of Action for Gaza.

The rallies marked three years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and coincided with similar rallies held around the world.^{1 & 2}

Sydney rally and march

In Sydney, thousands gathered at Hyde Park before marching through the CBD and Martin Place. The key demands of the rally included:

End to the arms trade – Protesters called on the Australian government to halt any two-way military trade, arms shipments, and defense relationships with Israel.

Sanctions & international law – Demonstrators demanded economic and political sanctions against Israel and urged Canberra to enforce international law.

Government accountability – Speakers, including representatives from Palestine Action Group Sydney, Jews Against the Occupation, and the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, expressed frustration with the Federal government’s lack of decisive action in the face of Israel’s ongoing genocide.

Bathurst rally

The Bathurst rally, also called ‘Kites for Gaza’, was hosted by Central West NSW for Palestine and attracted a cross section of local residents plus local artists and singer-songwriters.

Participants heard speeches from Kaat DeMaere (Central West NSW for Palestine), Lueth Ajak (local singer-songwriter) and Claudia, a local student who completed a major assignment on Gaza and Palestine and the violence being perpetrated there by Israel as part of her Year 12 studies.

In her speech, Kaat noted that “for three years Gaza has endured genocide while Israel has deepened their control of the West Bank, making a viable Palestinian state even more remote.”

As well, Western governments, including the Australia government, were criticised for their complicity in Israel’s genocide and their failure to end the two-way arms trade with Israel.

For example, the Australian government still refuses to stop the supply of locally manufactured components for F-35 stealth fighter jets that the Israeli Air Force has used in its deadly bombardment of Gaza.

Kaat stressed: “The Australian government must uphold international law and hold Israel to account. Our demands are straightforward: Australia must sanction Israel now.”

Red Lines Package

Kaat also referred to two other matters: the Red Lines Package of legislation currently before Federal parliament and the banning of kite flying by children in Gaza by the Israeli authorities.

The Red Lines legislation comprises an interrelated suite of four bills designed to put strict, binding legal limits on Australia’s military exports, public investments, and trade to ensure the nation is not complicit in war crimes, genocide, or illegal occupations.

In September, the Labor government teamed up with the Coalition and passed an amendment blocking a formal Senate inquiry into the package. Human rights groups have noted that this measure effectively shuts down public and expert scrutiny via Senate committee evaluation.

In response, people at the rally were encouraged to write to their local Federal member and the Prime Minister urging them to support this legislation being endorsed by the parliament.

Ban on kite flying in Gaza

In the context of the Bathurst ‘Kites for Gaza’ rally, mentioned was also made of Israeli authorities imposing a ban on kite flying in Gaza.

In August 2026, Israeli officials warned that any kite launched from Gaza would be treated as a hostile act or an act of war, prompting Palestinian families and local committees in Gaza to ban or destroy children’s kites out of fear of Israeli airstrikes and neighbourhood evacuations.

The United Nations has condemned Israel’s threat to expel Palestinians from areas of the besieged Gaza Strip where kites were being flown by children.

UN rights office spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, told reporters: “On the threat of expulsion due to children’s kite flying, I hope we can all agree that this is outrageous.” She also said that despite the so-called ceasefire, Palestinians in Gaza continue to be subjected to daily bombardment, gunfire, and killings by Israel.³

Songs

Local singer-songwriters who performed at the event included Matt Williams, Lueth Ajak and Cate McCarthy & Mick Moffitt from Fat Wombat.

Cate and Mick’s song was inspired by the massive ‘March for Humanity’ across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3, 2025.⁴

Despite inclement weather, it was estimated that 225,000 – 300,000 people attended the event based on drone footage.⁵

Chants

In addition to these performances, a group of three boys stepped forward and a number of chants, including ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’,  were recited in support of Palestinian self-determination.

All proceeds collected at the rally are to be donated to the ‘Clinic Under the Stairs’, a medical clinic initiative which aims to provide essential medical care to 3,000 people in Jabalia, northern Gaza.

Videos

Video of Kaat DeMaere’s speech to the rally.
Video of Kaat DeMaere on the Red Lines Package of legislation.

Notes

1. Institute for Middle East Understanding, ‘Fact Sheet: Three Years of Israel’s Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza’, Oct 5, 2026.
2. Institute for Middle East Understanding, ‘Fact Sheet: 10 Things to Know About Three Years of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza’, Sep 29, 2026.
3. Shahad Ali, ‘Kids in Gaza Sought Joy in Flying Kites. Israel Threatens to Kill Them for It’, Truthout, Aug 28, 2026.
4. Premier Minns publicly opposed the protest march. As well, the NSW Police attempted to block it based on so-called ‘risks to public safety and disruption’ and ‘short notice’ claims, but the NSW Supreme Court rejected these claims and ruled in favour of the organisers, the Palestine Action Group Sydney, allowing the march to proceed.
5. The Guardian, Palestine Action Group’s March for Humanity across Sydney Harbour Bridge – in pictures, Aug 3, 2025.