The haunting images of children kidnapped by Hamas gunmen have been placed in empty prams in central Sydney while a crowd of 12,000 people have called for a free Palestine in Melbourne.
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Thousands of people gathered in Martin Place on Sunday in a show of solidarity with Israel and to plead for the release of hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government.
Hundreds of pairs of shoes and photographs were laid out to represent the 230 Israeli men, women and children kidnapped in raids by the militants on October 7.
During the vigil people held posters saying "Bring them home now!" alongside artworks depicting "the realness and the ugliness of the war".
Several people called for the Jewish community not to fall silent and pleaded for authorities to do more to hasten the hostages' release.
"Some of our community is scared to even go out as a Jewish person," one speaker said.
"I have an answer to those people, not under this generation.
"This generation is a different generation. This generation is smarter, wiser and we're not going to be scared."
The event ended with a moment of silence before demonstrators filed down Pitt Street towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge to get a group photo to send to friends and family in Israel.
Thousands of people attended a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney's Hyde Park later on Sunday before marching through the streets.
They called for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to change his stance on the conflict, saying he was "supporting genocide".
A banner held by several demonstrators read, "Stop the war on Gaza! Free Palestine".
In Melbourne, Zionism Victoria estimated about 2000 people gathered at Caulfield Park in the southeast to call for the hostages' immediate return.
Police later said 1000 people attended the rally, where there were no incidents.
"There was a strong sentiment and feeling of community solidarity," Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb told AAP.
"We marked (the event with) song and speeches, calmly coming together to seek the return of the hostages and stand with Israel."
Thousands of people also gathered outside the State Library in Melbourne's CBD on Sunday in support of a free Palestine, with children among the attendees holding placards in a sea of Palestine flags.
The crowd - of about 12,000 people, according to police - chanted "free, free Palestine" ahead of a march through the CBD.
One speaker told attendees: "What is going on is nothing short of genocide."
"We need to be very clear in demanding a ceasefire. We need to boycott those companies who are supporting this."
A police spokeswoman said there were no major incidents at the event, however, officers would review any vision or CCTV.
Greens leader Adam Bandt reiterated calls for a ceasefire and condemned Labor's failure to vote for a ceasefire at the UN General Assembly.
Thousands of Australians have joined protests in support of Palestinians since Israeli forces bombarded the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in retaliation for the bloody incursion on October 7 that left more than 1000 Israelis dead.
Israel has laid siege to the 2.3 million people living in Gaza and unleashed a bombing campaign that's left more than 3500 dead, another 12,000 wounded and roughly one million displaced, according to Palestinian officials.
Civilians in Gaza have no power, water is scarce and the dwindling fuel sources used for emergency generators are running out.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is helping 88 Australians and their families in Gaza.
Australian Associated Press
