Melbourne school students defy education minister and strike in support of Palestine

Hundreds rally in CBD to call for an end to the war in Gaza and for Australia to stop military aid to Israel

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Amid chants of free, free Palestine", hundreds of Victoria school students have walked out of classrooms to call for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and for Australia to stop military aid to Israel.

Students gathered at the steps of Flinders Street station in the Melbourne CBD on Thursday afternoon, rallying for Palestine. The crowd spilled out on to the road, bringing traffic to a standstill at the busy Flinders and Swanston Street intersection.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup