Key Points
- Pro-Palestinian protesters have disrupted train stations, ports and other locations in Australia’s biggest cities.
- The protests were a response to the federal government’s actions since Israel declared war on Hamas in Gaza.
- Dozens have been arrested, including two people in Melbourne who police believe were tampering with traffic lights.
More than a dozen people have been arrested after train stations, ports and parts of Australia’s biggest cities were disrupted by protesters against the war in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian group A15 Action called on supporters to blockade “the arteries of capitalism” as part of Monday’s extensive action, saying “the global economy is complicit in genocide”.
An A15 Action spokesperson said the protests were in retaliation for the federal government’s actions since Israel declared war on Hamas in Gaza.
“We will make it economically unviable on a widespread scale for Australia to continue to support Israel in committing genocide in Gaza.”
Victoria Police confirmed 14 people had been arrested including 12 on Lorimer Street in Port Melbourne where the road was blocked.
Melbourne Activist Legal Support responded to reports of a blockade at the Boeing factory in Port Melbourne.
The group has since cleared the area.
Two people were arrested for criminal damage at the intersection of Victoria Street and Nicholson Street at Carlton.
Police believe the pair were tampering with traffic lights.
Police have arrested several protesters during demonstrations against the war in Gaza. Credit: Jono Searle
More than 100 people gathered at BP’s Melbourne office to object to the oil giant’s presence in the Middle East.
Among their tactics was the use of fake bloodied bodies outside the building, before heading towards Southern Cross Station.
The group said further protests were planned in Melbourne’s northwest on Monday afternoon.
“To be clear: we respect people’s right to protest when it is lawful and peaceful,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“However, there is no place for anyone wanting to deliberately disrupt and cause harm in our community.”
The West Gate Freeway, Hoddle Street, Thales’ premises and the main access point to Melbourne’s docks were morning protest points but failed to attract significant crowds.
More than 50 protesters gathered in Brisbane outside the Ferra engineering facility.
Police manned the gate to the facility, preventing protesters from entering.
“It makes you distraught to see the kind of violence that is going on that we are funding with our tax dollars,” one protester, Ollie, told AAP.
Protesters outside Parliament House in Melbourne carried placards and flags. Credit: James Ross
“It makes complete sense that we the people of Brisbane, and the people of Australia want to do something about it.”
Near Hobart, protesters shut down operations at a workshop of Currawong Engineering after entering its factory.
University student CT, who disabled the company’s workshop, said Currawong was “aiding and abetting the Israeli military”.
In NSW, A15 Action said three protesters blocked Thales’ Rydalmere site by attaching themselves to devices, including a ladder and a gate.
Protester Lilli Barto, who is at the western Sydney premises, said the group wanted the government to stop supporting weapon suppliers.
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam joined more than 100 protesters outside state parliament.
“What we’re going to see today is what we’ve seen for months across the world with millions of people joining these marches,” she said.
“(This is what) happens when our governments don’t listen.”
Protesters gathered to demonstrate outside Ferra Engineering in Brisbane. Credit: Jono Searle
In NSW, Premier Chris Minns said many officers were dealing with the aftermath of the deadly Bondi Junction stabbing tragedy.
“People need to understand that you may lose more supporters for your cause than you gain as we direct police resources to the inquiry,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
“And the community itself is (trying) to come together after a terrible 48 hours”.
The fresh protest comes days after Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the “pathway out of the endless cycle of violence” in the Middle East can only come with recognition of “a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel”.
On 7 October, Hamas — designated a terrorist group by the Australian government — launched an attack on Israel that left 1,200 people dead and another 200 taken hostage.
In the months since, Israel has launched a ground offensive and bombing campaign on Gaza that has killed more than 33,000 people and displaced another 1.7 million, according to the local health ministry.
