Thousands protest in Sydney amid escalating violence in Middle East

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Sydney in renewed calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East following the latest escalation in violence.

A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators today stepped up their calls for an immediate ceasefire as the anniversary of Israel's war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas' deadly October 7 raid, approaches.

The demonstrations came after Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon killed hundreds over the past week, including the Iran-backed militant group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah

There was no plan for those gathered to march but with such a large crowd it became inevitable.

Police were left with no other option but to close the streets and let people through. Tempers flared at times with police but overall it was peaceful and no one was arrested.

The escalation in violence is causing a rare split between Australia's major parties on foreign policy.

The Albanese government is calling for a ceasefire while the opposition accuses it of playing politics, and hundreds of Australian citizens are caught in the middle.

Speaking at the United Nations during the week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined with the US, UK and other allies in issuing the ceasefire call.

Australia signed onto a collective call with the US and other nations for a 21-day stop to fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border.

"The end game should be peace and security in the region, peace and security for Israelis and that will require a two-state solution," Wong told Sky News on Sunday.

Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie accused her of playing "domestic politics".

McKenzie acknowledged "civilian casualties in any war cause concern amongst all of us" but stressed "Israel has a right to defend itself".

"It's all good and well for us to say we believe in Israel's right to self defence, but every single time they defend themselves we somehow seem to minimise that or criticise them," McKenzie told the ABC's Insiders on Sunday.

The Australian government is promising more aid money for Lebanon after Israel's airstrikes caused devastation in Beirut.

Contingency plans are being considered, likely alongside some of Australia's allies, as diplomatic efforts continue.

Wong continued to urged Australians in Lebanon to leave.

"We have been saying please come home and we've done that because we have so many Australians in Lebanon," she said.

The joint statement calling for a ceasefire, which was negotiated by leaders and diplomats at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said the situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8 in 2023 "presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation".

Hezbollah started firing rockets on Israel in support of Gaza on October 8, a day after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing some 1200 people and abducting another 250.

Since then, the two sides have been engaged in escalating cross-border strikes.

Israel has vowed to step up pressure on Hezbollah until it halts its attacks that have displaced tens of thousands of Israelis from communities near the Lebanese border.

The recent fighting has also displaced more than 200,000 Lebanese in the past week, according to the United Nations.

In Gaza, More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It doesn't say how many were fighters, but says women and children make up more than half of the dead.

The conflict has left 90 per cent of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to figures from the United Nations.

– Reported with Associated Press