The Supreme Court to Hear Case on Pro-Palestinian Protest at Harbour Bridge at Noon

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Thousands of people were expected to join the Sydney Harbour Bridge procession on Sunday, opposing Israel’s bombardment of the blockaded enclave, before police confirmed they would not permit it.

Organising group Palestine Action Group Sydney has vowed to rally regardless, without specifying where, of the court outcome, ending a Facebook post with “whatever happens, see you on Sunday”.

At the same time, five NSW Labor MPs are amongst a 15-strong group of politicians planning to march on Sunday.

“We the undersigned members of the NSW Parliament support, and will attend, Sunday’s March for Humanity and Palestine across the harbour bridge,” they said in a joint statement.

“We call upon the NSW government to work with the organisers to facilitate a safe and orderly event, on Sunday 3 August, or on some other agreed date.”

Several trade unions have also endorsed the march.

Premier Chris Minns, who has blamed demonstrators for draining police resources for nearly two years in their facilitation of weekly protests in the city’s centre, said he “cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos”.

NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission.

But in an open letter, lawyers have again questioned NSW’s protest laws and argued they run contrary to Australia’s civil rights obligations under an international treaty.

Kerry Weste, vice president, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, said: “As a party to the core United Nations human rights treaties, Australia has recognised that freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and, in consequence, NSW must protect it.”

“The right of peaceful assembly extends to all gatherings for peaceful purposes, wherever they take place. and regardless of whether they occur in the form of demonstrations, protests, meetings, processions, rallies, sit-ins, candle-lit vigils or even flash mobs,” she said.

The bridge has previously been shut, including for a reconciliation rally in 2000 which attracted more than 250,000 people, a World Pride event with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s participation and a Hollywood film production.

Nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.

In that time, the Gaza health ministry has recorded 156 deaths from starvation and malnutrition, most of them in recent weeks, including at least 90 children.

Dozens have also been killed by Israeli fire across the enclave in the last 24 hours, including 12 people among crowds who had gathered to receive aid, Gaza health authorities said. The Israeli military said its troops had fired warning shots to disperse crowds and had not identified any casualties.

Confronted by rising international outrage over images of starving children, Israel said it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and designate secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine.

SBS News reported this week that Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, and deputy chief of mission, Amir Meron, were called in for a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.