Pro-Palestine protesters block Israeli shipping line in Melbourne
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Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters blocked the road to a Melbourne shipyard where an Israeli shipping line operates.
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BlWebb Dock Rd Port blockade in Melbourne, November 8, 2023 (Social media)
Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked entry routes, preventing vehicles from reaching the region where an Israeli shipping line works, bringing a Melbourne shipyard to a complete stop on Wednesday.
The protesters affiliated with the Trade Unionists for Palestine organization blocked heavy traffic at the Victorian International Container Terminal by laying on the road draped in the Palestinian flag.
They demanded an immediate ceasefire, an end to the genocide in Gaza, and justice for Palestine with members of the Palestinian and Jewish communities.
Over two hundred demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and held posters promoting Free Palestine while "keep the children safe" chants and drum beats reverberated throughout the shipyard.
The oldest and biggest shipping corporation in "Israel", ZIM, is being accused by demonstrators of having a long history of aiding war crimes and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people.
The number of martyrs in the Gaza Strip has risen to 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, the Ministry of Health in Gaza stated.
Israeli strikes have injured 26,475 people since the beginning of the aggression on October 7.
🚨Breaking 🚨
— Dj Shy (@dj_shy) November 8, 2023
BREAKING: Trade Unionists for Palestine shut down a Melbourne port to block trucks from accessing the area where Israeli shipping line ZIM operates, citing the company's complicity in oppressing Palestinians.#Gazagenocide #EthnicCleansing #ZionismIsTerrorism… pic.twitter.com/lMPTzA6wN3
Unionists for Palestine member Matthew Abbott said, "Disrupting ZIM is an important victory for unionists, workers, and ordinary people everywhere as we stand up against Israel's genocide and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians."
Pro-Palestine demonstrators have staged "block the boat protests" against the company's vessels in ports all around the world to draw attention to the murders of civilians in Gaza.
In early November, pro-Palestine protesters stopped a ship docked at the Port of Oakland from leaving.
On Saturday, when the Israeli cargo business arrives at Port Botany, protesters in Sydney plan to stage a demonstration.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns has accused protesters of "preaching hate on Sydney Streets," warning them that they could not "stop trade, you can't stop commerce from other business entities in the state."
Ahmed Abadla, a member of Palestine Justice Movement Sydney, stated that since ZIM was a "major transporter of armaments," it was not welcome in Port Botany "or anywhere people stand against genocide and war crimes."
IMMEDIATE - BLOCKING ISRAILI SHIP IN PORT MELBOURNE
— Tasnim 🌿🇵🇸⚘ (@ForPalestine__) November 8, 2023
Wednesday 8th November, live. pic.twitter.com/H3lnSBqvot
