Pro-Palestine Demonstrators in Sydney Urge Boycott of Israeli-Owned Shipping Firm
Hundreds of people carrying Palestinian flags and holding up signs protested against the unloading of a vessel belonging to the Israeli-owned shipping company ZIM.
They called for a boycott of ZIM and an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
A jetski with a Palestine flag attached to it was stationed in the water off the major commercial port, while a crowd chanted "Free Palestine" to banging drums.
The Palestine Justice Movement Sydney (PJMS) organized the demonstration targeting the ZIM ship Calandra.
Attendees were seen holding signs that said "Boycott ZIM" and "End the Gaza Blockade".
PJMS organizer Ahmed Al Abadla said the Australian government should stop trading with ZIM and other pro-Israel companies.
"ZIM shipping line has a relentless history of moving arms between countries to Israel," Al Abadla said.
Last month, ZIM chief executive Eli Glickman said the company would be "positioning its ships and infrastructure" to aid the Israeli regime's war ministry.
About 80 NSW Police officers were also in attendance on Tuesday evening including mounted units.
At one point, a line of officers stopped the group from marching onto Foreshore Road, with the crowd chanting "Let us pass".
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The protest moved to Sirius Road, one of the entry points to the port.
Protester Jenna Fayyad, who is from the occupied West Bank, said one of the PJMS's mission was to dismantle the "Israeli apartheid system".
"Palestine has been suffering from a brutal military occupation for the last 75 years," she said.
"Israel has completely shut off water, food electricity, fuel and medical resources into Gaza for the last six weeks."
It's the latest demonstration to occur in response to the overseas conflict in Gaza, after protesters rallied outside NSW Premier Chris Minns' office on Monday.
Al Abadla said he was disappointed in the state government's response to the protests.
"I was one of those people who was cheering the Labor party when they won in the state and the federal elections," he said.
"I feel betrayed as a Palestinian, as a Muslim, as an Arab. I really feel betrayed."
Source: abc.net.au
