• Activists affiliated with Free Palestine Melbourne are slated to hold a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Victoria Parliament at 12:00 (local time) on August 14.
• The protest aims to highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and call for immediate sanctions against Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas.

1. The turnout at the slated gathering is likely to range in the high dozens to low hundreds, given the mobilizing capabilities of the organizing group, coupled with the pro-Palestinian sentiment in Melbourne. As per the standard security protocol, the authorities are expected to bolster the security measures with the deployment of additional police personnel and the setting up of barricades in the vicinity of the Victoria Parliament to monitor protest proceedings, given the location’s high sensitivity.
2. There remains a risk of localized skirmishes between the police and protesters, given the sensitivities surrounding the protest. In case the protestors are perceived to be engaged in unruly behavior, including antisemitic sloganeering and vandalism, the authorities are likely to employ crowd control measures such as temporary detention and forced removal from the site. The potential presence of Jewish/Israeli bystanders engaging in impromptu counterprotests further elevates the risk of intergroup clashes. Disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are expected in the vicinity of the Victoria Parliament due to the anticipated turnout and associated security measures during the slated hours on August 14.

Those operating or residing in Melbourne on August 14 are advised to maintain vigilance in the vicinity of the Victoria Parliament area due to the slated protest and associated risk of localized skirmishes, while allotting for travel disruptions.