It is "inevitable" thousands of people will march over an Australian landmark for Palestine rights.
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But whether police will be able to bar protesters from blocking public roads and infrastructure on Sunday is yet to be determined, after a Supreme Court judge ruled she would sleep on her decision.
Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation in Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity".
Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
NSW Police on Friday took the demonstration's organisers, Palestine Action Group, to the Supreme Court in Sydney to request the rally be deemed unauthorised.
NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit.
Representing state police, Lachlan Gyles SC argued they would not be able to maintain a safe environment if the protest was authorised and closing the bridge was not reasonable with less than a week's notice.
Under cross-examination, acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson raised the possibility of a crowd crush.
"I'm personally concerned about that," he said on Friday.
But Palestine Action Group barrister Felicity Graham told the court it would be safer for police to authorise the protest, as people would march regardless of Justice Belinda Rigg's decision.
"A prohibition order may well increase the number of people who attend the protest and exacerbate the potential for unrest and violence," she said.
The group had vowed to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable.
A last-minute application on Friday was lodged to police by a pro-Israel fringe group to also protest in the tunnel under Sydney Harbour, the court heard.
Police confirmed to AAP the group withdrew the application soon after.
Five NSW Labor MPs and Greens senator David Shoebridge are among 16 politicians planning to join the march.
They had urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date".
Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further.
He predicted Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans.
"The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said on Friday morning.
Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with police to find an alternative route.
"There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest. It's not deniable and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said.
Mr Minns had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney.
Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values.
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks because of starvation.
Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 250 hostage.
Justice Riggs has reserved her decision until 10am on Saturday.
Australian Associated Press
