Photos: Pre-Christmas rallies bring thousands into Melbourne’s CBD for Gaza #CeasefireNOW

People gathering at the State Library, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Palestinian man from the West Bank waiting for people to gather at the State Library, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Jews for a free Palestine calling for ceasefire now, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Young woman showing her support for Palestinians. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Under the giant keffiyeh, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

A giant keffiyeh, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Bombing hospitals is not self defence. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protesting in support of Palestinians. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Nelson Mandela was a strong supporter for Palestinian freedom. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors get a moment of respite from the sun on their way to Parliament House, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Netanyahu fascist. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Palestinian flags at state Parliament, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

The watermelon is a powerful Palestinian symbol of resistance to Israeli occupation. Photo: Wayne Jansson

In solidarity with the thousands of children killed by Israeli bombing, a young girl leads the chant. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Free free Palestine. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors stop at a Starbucks outlet calling for people to boycott the chain over their funding of Israel's war on Gaza, Palestine. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors stop at a Zara outlet calling for a boycott of the company after their advertising depicted dead Palestinians. Photo: Wayne Jansson

An Afghan women showing solidarity with Palestinians. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Police guard Zara's outlet in the Bourke St Mall, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Woman at Bourke St Mall, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Nasser Mashni addresses the crowd at the Christmas Eve #CeasefireNOW rally, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors listening to speeches at the State Library, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors waiting for the march to begin. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors waiting for the march to begin. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors waiting for the march to begin. Photo: Wayne Jansson

The names of babies killed by Israeli bombing in Gaza. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Defiant solidarity. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestor at the free Palestine rally, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Genocide is not a fashion trend - protestors sit down in front of Zara in the Bourke St Mall. Photo: Wayne Jansson

The solidarity of the dispossessed. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Crowd at the Christmas Eve #CeasefireNow rally at Parliament House, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

From Palestine to the Philippines end the US war machine. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Land you have to kill for is not yours. Land you have to die for is. Photo: Wayne Jansson

No apartheid. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Burgetory owner and Palestinian activist, Hash Tayeh leads marchers back to the State Library, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors take their march to Melbourne Central Mall. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors take their march to Melbourne Central Mall. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors take their march to Melbourne Central Mall. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors take their march to Melbourne Central Mall. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Protestors take their march to Melbourne Central Mall. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Woman at the Christmas Eve #CeasefireNOW rally, Melbourne. Photo: Wayne Jansson

Final words from Hash Tayeh at the Christmas Eve #FreePalestine rally. Photo: Wayne Jansson