Sydney - Thousands of Australians took to the streets on Sunday in pro-Palestinian rallies, defying police warnings aimed at limiting their gatherings amid ongoing tensions sparked by the recent Hamas incursion into Israel.

Rising concerns about potential violence erupting domestically as a result of the ongoing conflict have led to the clamping down on such protests in developed nations, with France having gone as far as banning them due to fears that they could disrupt public order.

In one of the largest rallies, organized by the Palestine Action Group in Sydney, the capital of Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, demonstrators waved Palestine flags and chanted slogans like "Free, free Palestine."

The event was heavily patrolled by hundreds of police officers, with a police helicopter circling low over Hyde Park where the rally took place. Organizers estimated around 5,000 participants, while a Reuters witness put the number at about 2,000.

The Palestine Action Group spokesperson, Amal Naser, said that the rally had remained peaceful, and police refrained from employing special powers to stop and search protesters, a move that had not been considered for nearly two decades.

The attendees expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian cause in various ways. Ayah, a Palestinian living in Sydney, emphasized her peaceful intentions, stating that she attended the rally "to support my country, nothing to do with burning flags."

Apart from Sydney, pro-Palestine rallies were also reported in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and Melbourne, the capital of the Victorian state, as per the Guardian Australia news site.

In response to these rallies, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an official Jewish group, condemned the demonstrations, particularly given their timing, occurring "just days" after the recent attack on Israel. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the council, pointed out that some protesters were "chanting in euphemisms calling for Israel’s destruction," underscoring the complexity and sensitivity of the issue.

The rallies came after Sydney police arrested three men on Friday for delivering Nazi salutes outside the Jewish Museum of Australia. Australia's intelligence chief has urged people to temper their rhetoric, emphasizing the need to avoid inflaming tensions further.

The events in Australia reflect the global concern and support for the Palestinian cause, as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to cast a long shadow and raise fears of further unrest, even in far-flung corners of the world.