Tens of thousands of people marched through Australia’s largest cities on 24 August, capping one of the country’s biggest ever pro-Palestinian mobilisations. Organisers said as many as 350,000 demonstrators turned out in more than 40 locations, with police still finalising their crowd estimates. Melbourne’s march brought traffic to a stand-still in the central business district, while Brisbane’s Palestine Action group put its turnout at roughly 50,000. Protesters demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, an end to Australia’s arms trade with Israel and the imposition of sanctions. The nationwide “Day of Action” followed two triggers: Canberra’s decision earlier in the week to recognise a Palestinian state and a UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report that formally declared famine in parts of Gaza. Unions and community organisations joined the rallies, which remained largely peaceful but forced road closures and public-transport diversions in several state capitals. Two days later, Israelis angered by the continuing war staged their own wave of protests. Families of captives led a country-wide “Day of Disruption” on 26 August, blocking highways, burning tyres and rallying outside ministers’ homes to press Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a cease-fire that would free the roughly 50 hostages still held in Gaza. The action coincided with a security-cabinet meeting where renewed mediation proposals were expected to be discussed. Demonstrators accused the government of prioritising continued military operations over the detainees’ lives, a criticism sharpened by Monday’s Israeli tank strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis that killed at least 20 people, including five journalists. With pressure mounting at home and abroad, Netanyahu has pledged simultaneously to pursue hostages’ release and expand the offensive in Gaza City, a stance that protest leaders say is no longer tenable.