Australians worry for relatives in Gaza, Israel

Protesters have gathered in Sydney's CBD to protest Israeli airstrikes and troop build up along the Gaza border, ahead of a possible ground invasion of the Palestinian territory.

Pro-Palestinians protest the violence in Gaza at Sydney's Town Hall.

 

Rally-goers chanted slogans as they converged on St Andrews Square, Town Hall, at 1pm, with Greens senator Lee Rhiannon calling Israel's actions shameful and demanding a cease fire.

Senator Rhiannon described the conflict as a war of the oppressor versus the oppressed.

The rally comes as the death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza rose to 157 following the deaths of another 52 Palestinians overnight, marking the bloodiest day since the conflict erupted on Tuesday.

The Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv is arranging a one-off assisted departure of Australians from Gaza, and the federal government has asked those wanting to leave to urgently contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.