Protesters gathered in Melbourne for an urgent rally following the Israeli military’s interception of the Freedom Flotilla vessel Handala, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Demonstrators condemned the attack and called on the Australian government to impose sanctions on Israel, denounce the assault, and sever all diplomatic, military, and economic ties. The protest expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanded an immediate end to the ongoing siege on Gaza. Since October 2023, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.