By William Ton and Samantha Lock 

Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered across dozens of Australian cities and towns, marching in a nationwide groundswell of support for the Palestinian cause, days after famine was declared in Gaza for the first time.

Marchers, backed by more than 250 community organisations, unions and prominent public figures turned up at rallies in more than 40 cities on Sunday to demand sanctions and an end to Australia’s arms trade with Israel.

“The movement is the biggest it’s ever been,” Palestine Action Group’s Sydney spokesman Josh Lees told AAP.

Organisers anticipate up to half a million people to turn out by the day’s end, backing up the estimated 300,000 that attended the Sydney Harbor Bridge march in early August, which they say was a reflection of the huge outpouring of support for Palestinians.

“That bridge march has generated so much momentum around the country,” Mr Lees said.

“The dam has burst in terms of support for Palestine and opposition to this genocide.”

The action comes days after the United Nations confirmed famine in parts of the Gaza Strip for the first time, as Israel prepares for a military takeover of the entire city.

“It adds even more to the urgency of why we need to mobilise to demand our government takes real action to stop this,” Mr Lees said.

More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed including 18,000 children since October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1200 people and took more than 200 hostages at an Israeli music festival, according to the United Nations.

Speakers slated to address crowds include high-profile activist Grace Tame and journalist Antoinette Lattouf.

The push for change comes after a magistrate vetoed plans by organisers to march across Brisbane’s Story Bridge, which Queensland Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman welcomed but said could have been resolved weeks ago.

About 7000 gathered at Queens Gardens with speeches kicking off just after 1pm.

A larger turnout congregated just before midday outside Victoria’s State Library in Melbourne calling for sanctions and holding placards that read “Israel is killing children”.

Protests are also taking place in Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, as well as in regional cities, including Warrnambool and Geelong.

Israel has rejected criticism that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, a claim that has also been brought against it before the International Court of Justice.  Its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the famine declaration an “outright lie”.

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