Thousands call for Israel to stop its bombardment of Gaza - PHOTO

Stunned shoppers watched on as a crowd of more than 2000 marched down George Street, waving flags and chanting, 'In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinian.'It is Sydney's second major pro-Palestine rally in a fortnight.Parramatta woman Buthania Saeed took her children to Sunday's protest, which came days after four youngsters were killed in an air strike as they played on a beach in Gaza City.'I'm here as a mum to raise awareness of what's happening in Gaza,' Ms Saeed, 41, told AAP.'All we're seeing is women and children being murdered, houses are being burnt down and families are being vanished.'One demonstrator held up a baby doll swaddled in fake blood-drenched sheets, and stretcher bearers carried child-like figures wrapped in white.More than 500 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been killed in the 13-day conflict.Rally master of ceremonies Ophelia Haragli called on Australian leaders to 'stand up'.'You don't have to look far, you only have to look at the pictures on the screens, and touch your heart to know that what's going on in Israel is a massacre,' Ms Haragli said.NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, who addressed the crowd, wants the federal government to use Australia's position on the UN Security Council to push for a ceasefire.Elsewhere in Sydney, deputy federal opposition leader Tanya Plibersek said an end to the conflict was urgently needed, though she did not outline the role Australia might play in reaching any detente.'Of course the rockets must stop,' Ms Plibersek told reporters on Sunday. 'Hamas must agree to a ceasefire, and I also urge Israel to ensure that any response to that rocket fire is proportionate and spares the lives of civilians.'(dailymail.co.uk)Bakudaily.az