Busker attacked by pro-Palestinian protester as Melbourne faces biggest protest in decades

Melbourne is bracing for what could be its largest protest since the 2000 World Economic Forum, as pro-Palestinian groups and other anti-war protesters aim to disrupt the three-day Land Forces Exposition.

Billed by organisers as Australia's largest defence industry event, Land Forces includes a weapons exhibition, a defence industry conference and awards for innovative defence technology.

The protest coalition Disrupt Land Forces describes it as a "one-stop genocide shop," and has organised a week-long protest. The main event will be on Wednesday when police anticipate up to 25,000 protesters. Their demands include shutting down the conference and that the Australian Government stops arming Israel.

Pro-Palestinian groups form a large proportion of those driving the protest coalition, among them the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, Unionists for Palestine, Students for Palestine, the Loud Jew Collective, and Jews Against Fascism.

Sunday's iternation of the weekly pro-Palestinian rally was recast as the start of the week-long protest campaign and provided a taste of what may be to come.

The rally turned violent when protesters clashed with buskers on Bourke Street outside David Jones. Protesters demanded the buskers stop their performance and declare their support for "the children of Gaza".