By Perry Duffin
Tens of thousands of protesters have marched across the country calling for an end to the death and starvation of Palestinians, as it was revealed NSW Police have spent more than $11.3 million controlling tensions from the Middle Eastern conflict here.
A confidential briefing on the force’s response to protests, rallies and crimes linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict reveals that police resources have been “strained” protecting religious sites. The briefing also revealed the social cost of the conflict here in Australia.
Protesters participate in a pro Palestinian rally in Sydney on Sunday.Credit: AAPIMAGE
Protests returned to the streets of Sydney – and 36 other cities and towns – on Sunday, as the Palestine Action Group held a nationwide march calling for sanctions, an end to the “starvation and genocide” in Gaza, and an end to any arms trade with Israel.
At the Sydney event, 2021 Australian of the Year said Grace Tame asked the crowd: “Who is ready to resist?”
“There is another force that power responds to ... it is public pressure. If we can get 300,000 to block the bridge we can get three million,” she said.
Sydney organiser Josh Lees said Australians were out in force to “demand an end to this genocide in Gaza and to demand that our government sanction Israel” as rallygoers, many with Palestinian flags, chanted “free, free Palestine”.
Protesters gather at the National March for a pro-Palestine rally on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
“That bridge march has generated so much momentum around the country,” Lees said.
The group said around 350,000 attended the rallies nationwide, including around 50,000 in Brisbane, though police estimated the numbers there at closer to 10,000. Police did not have estimates for crowd sizes in Sydney and Melbourne.
Sunday’s action follows a protest earlier this month, when approximately 100,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the group’s last major rally, dubbed the March for Humanity.
NSW Police sources said at the time that it cost more than $1 million for the police presence at the August 3 march, which included a PolAir helicopter circling the bridge and a hefty overtime bill.
Pro-Palestine protesters march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3.Credit: Janie Barrett
The bridge protest was the biggest since Hamas’ attack on Israel, in October 2023. It kicked off weekly demonstrations in Sydney both for and against Israel’s military response, and the increasing civilian deaths and suffering in Gaza.
NSW Police established Operation Shelter as waves of anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic crimes and confrontations shocked the city, and demonstrations became a weekly event.
A confidential police briefing obtained by the Herald, penned before the Harbour Bridge protest, reveals NSW Police have recorded thousands of such events since October 7.
“From 8 October 2023 to 14 April 2025, Operation Shelter recorded 1846 pro-Palestine and pro-Israel events and protests,” the document reads.
Pro-Palestine demonstrators march past Flinders Street Station on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
The briefing, marked sensitive and titled “social cohesion”, said Operation Shelter had cost $10,723,359 to April 2025.
“This includes a range of ... costs including User Pays, overtime, penalties, allowances, and investigation expenses,” the document reads.
Police sources say that figure now far exceeds $11.3 million, given the number and scale of the protests since April, most notably on the bridge.
But the document also reveals the cost that the ongoing war has wrought on Australia’s social fabric and police resources.
“Additional police response is often required at protests due to incidents and offending caused by individuals with different views coming into contact and requiring police intervention,” the document says.
“This takes officers away from other taskings.”
The document describes a 39-year-old male charged with assault after ripping a sign from a protester’s hands at a pro-Palestine rally in the city on February 8 last year.
Two days later, a second man was seen spitting on pro-Palestine protesters as they handed out flyers at a PAG rally.
“Similar incidents have been common since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, and individuals have been attending protests in NSW,” the document says.
Officers from Shelter and the Eastern Suburbs command stepped up patrols around Sydney’s east, home to much of the city’s Jewish population, as public and political outcry grew over antisemitic graffiti and arson attacks.
Demonstrators march through the CBD on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
“Ongoing intelligence, investigation support and an increased police presence around synagogues and other Jewish premises strained resources,” the confidential briefing reads.
The attacks, the Herald revealed and police later confirmed, were orchestrated by organised criminals allegedly trying to gain leverage in drug importation prosecutions.
More rallies are planned for the future, including an anti-immigration march which is trying to distance itself from the neo-Nazi and conspiracy theorists who are claiming to hold leadership roles ahead of the event next weekend.
with AAP
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.