As the crowd approached the police line, organiser Mohammad Sharab called on protesters to “prove to the world that this is not a movement that will clash with police” and told them to stay back or sit down.
“We are sitting here for Palestine … peacefully,” he said. “We need to calm down, show everybody who we are. We have women, children, vulnerable people. We are responsible people.
“They are holding their guns, their weapons, against people who are protesting peacefully. Shame on Victoria Police, shame.”
One woman wearing a keffiyeh approached the police line to say “keep our children safe” and another protester told the heavily armed officers the police blockade was a “waste of taxpayer dollars”.
Protest marshals formed a line to keep distance between the police and protesters. Demonstrators chanted “Free Palestine” and “Not a target”.
“Thank you for blocking the bridge. You did our job for us!” one masked protester shouted at the police.
Standing on the bridge a few metres from the police line, Kevin Bracken said he had attended most protests and all had been peaceful.
“It’s right over the top, isn’t it?” he said. “It’s sending the message, who runs Victoria? They couldn’t stop it in NSW, but the politicians here are puppet masters. This is about what’s happening in Gaza. This is about starving children.”
After the larger protest dispersed about 3pm, a small spin-off group stopped traffic and started burning an Australian flag and spray-painting “Abolish Australia” on Spencer Street.
When asked whether they represented the broader protest movement, one person in a grey hoodie and black mask shook her head and walked away.
“We’re just concerned citizens,” said another. “No group.”
They chanted “Too many coppers, not enough justice” and “Free Palestine” before police arrived and the crowd of fewer than one dozen people dispersed.
Earlier in the day, former Greens candidate for Wills Samantha Ratnam addressed the crowd to roaring applause and clanging pots, a symbol of food shortages in Gaza. She said Labor was feeling pressure amid rising calls for Israeli sanctions and greater scrutiny on contracts for military parts.
“The more they minimise us ... the more and more they’re being overwhelmed [by the] community telling them they’re on the wrong side of history,” she said.
Rally organiser Mohammad Sharab said the protests were about peace and humanity, criticising the media and politicians for calling the protesters “extremists”.
“We stand for justice ... We are not ashamed of it. For those who call us extremist and antisemitic for standing against genocide, these extreme comments make you the extremist. That’s my message to [Premier] Jacinta Allan,” he said.
Palestinian activist Basil El Ghattis held up pictures of children aged from six months to 17 years old, suffering severe malnutrition from the aid blockade in Gaza.
“The starvation of Palestinians today is a page out of the colonial playbook,” he said. “We must hold our government to account.”
Earlier, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force repeatedly engaged with Melbourne protest organisers to persuade them not to gather on the King Street Bridge, but rally plans had not changed.
She said officers would have a visible presence in the city on Sunday, with additional police brought in from outside metropolitan Melbourne.
Police confirmed there were no arrests, but they were following up a report that an egg was thrown at a person during the protest
Organisers from the Free Palestine Coalition said the police decision to bring in hundreds of additional officers was a waste of resources for a peaceful protest.
“Gaza is suffering from an ongoing forced man-made famine and ongoing bombing of civilians,” the coalition said.
“This is exactly why organisers are holding the protest to King Street Bridge ... to let the good people of the city of Melbourne know that there are atrocities happening in Gaza, and that we as a community have an opportunity to change the status quo, and bring about change.”
The Israeli government has denied claims of genocide and starvation in Gaza, claiming the war is an act of self-defence.
Premier Jacinta Allan warned protesters there would be consequences for anyone who caused chaos in the CBD.
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“There are strong operational arrangements in place for today. Those are in place to support people’s safety,” she said at a press conference on Sunday morning before the protest.
“Anyone who breaks the law, anyone who compromises community safety will be dealt with swiftly by Victoria Police.”
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said it was vital that rallies had to receive a permit to go-ahead and police were given powers to “move on” protesters, to avoid circumstances where major roads were closed.
“[The state government] hasn’t brought the legislation in to ensure we’ve got registration of protests here in our state … to keep the community moving and keep the community safe,” he said.
Last week, Police Chief Commissioner, Mike Bush, ruled out introducing protest permits in Victoria, saying they had not been a game-changer in other states.
On Sunday, Battin urged the chief commissioner to reconsider, suggesting a stance against protest permits was the wrong message for Victoria.
”The chief commissioner has been here for a short period of time, not for all 92 of these protests that have happened in the city... But the reality is, the legislation lies with the government.”
The Victorian government last year announced it would criminalise face masks at protests and the use of glue, rope, chains and other devices that cause disruptions, but it is yet to bring the bill to parliament.
