A pro-Palestinian protest at busy Port Botany in Sydney led to more than 20 arrests for those involved. The activists gathered to protest against the arrival of a cargo ship owned by an Israeli company ZIM as well as to call for a ceasefire amid the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Approximately 400 people assembled near the boat ramp at Foreshore Road, chanting and waving Palestinian flags near the boat ramp, with some clashing with police and failing to comply with directions from police to move on. New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns and the NSW police minister have backed the actions of police following the arrests.
Police began mobilizing at 5 p.m., along with officers working in Operation Shelter, the riot squad, and mounted unit specialists, after receiving notice of the planned unauthorised protest at Port Botany. NSW Premier Chris Minns commended the police following the incident.
After a number of people continued to refuse police direction, 23 people were arrested before all people left the roadway about 9 p.m. The 23 individuals were escorted to multiple police stations and charged with allegedly failing to comply with a move on direction and “damage or disruption to a major facility.”
In response, supporters of the Palestinian cause claimed police were responsible for the scuffles, with vision emerging of a child in a pram being carried through the crowd by protesters to avoid being crushed.
NSW Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope also commended the police on their “strong action”. This is part of an increasing approach to demonstrations which needs to be reined in, because it is impacting on the fabric of what we are as a city and a community in Sydney, he said.
It is not the first time that pro-Palestinian activists have protested against Israeli cargo ships, with a previous incident occurring recently on November 11. Protesters on jet skis attempted to block another Israeli ship from entering port.