'Hits home': thousands march down King Street to demand action on Gaza

The eastbound lane of King Street was closed to traffic as an estimated 3000 to 4000 people marched from Birdwood Park to Civic Park, chanting and waving flags and placards in a show of unity for Palestine.

It was part of an Australia-wide march demanding that the federal government place sanctions on Israel and end any arms trade.

Co-organiser Lily Campbell from the University of Newcastle Students for Palestine said the response exceeded expectations.

"I was anticipating maybe 400 to 500 people, but this looks a lot bigger," Ms Campbell said.

"It just shows what people know, which is that a vast number of the population have a negative view of Israel now.

"They've had enough of genocide. They've had enough of our own government's complicity in it.

"They want to see crippling sanctions placed on Israel and want to see an end to the two-way arms trade."

People of all ages participated in the rally, holding signs such as "Children Are Not The Enemy," "There's No 2 Sides To Genocide" and "No More Gestures, Sanctions Now".

Many people also wore shirts with the Palestine flag, and others wore clothes depicting sliced watermelon, which has long been a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

Newcastle's Naomi Hodgson and Nissa Phillips attended last month's 100,000-strong rally across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and said the groundswell of support for Palestine and outrage at the actions of Israel was growing.

"What's happening in Palestine is heartbreaking and horrific and one of the most unjust things I've ever witnessed happening in the world," Ms Hodgson said.

"I feel it's essential that every person with a heart stands up and does something about what's happening."

Since Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1195 people and saw another 251 taken hostage, 62,622 Gazan people have died in the subsequent war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Ms Phillips said the recent news reports of thousands of Palestinians, many of them children, being starved to death in Gaza were making it impossible for Australians to ignore.

"There's a declared famine now," Ms Phillips said.

"This is real. We have footage livestreamed to our phones; it cuts through Israeli propaganda spin."

There were many children being pushed in prams or holding their parents' hands as they walked down King Street.

Among them was two-year-old Felix, who was there with his mother Jess McEnalley-Hall and father, Luke.

Ms McEnalley, who is pregnant with her second child, said reports of thousands of children being killed and starved in Gaza "hits home".

"I think it's important to show up," she said.

"It's so easy to feel like you can't make a difference with anything you do, but when you come here, it gives you that energy to keep fighting and that it's not hopeless.

"People do care, even when it feels like nobody cares."

Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp, walked along King Street and mingled with protestors in Civic Park, despite a few hecklers claiming he had "blood on his hands" and that Labor was "not welcome here."

"It's a very big turnout today, and I'm not surprised," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"Newcastle is the sort of community that has a lot of compassion and strength and comes out when people believe injustice is going on."

Mr Crakanthorp said he supported the Albanese government's recent announcement to recognise the state of Palestine.

"All the footage coming out of Gaza has struck a chord with so many people," he said.

"It certainly has with me, and I'd like to see a stop to the war immediately."