‘Stop Arming Israel’: Pro-Palestine Protesters Occupy Minister’s Office

A protester holds a sign that reads "From Turtle Island to Palestine" at a rally in downtown Toronto on Oct. 9, 2023. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times)

A group of 50 protesters holding banners saying, “Stop arming Israel,” “Free Palestine”, “Free Gaza,” and “Stop the genocide” have blockaded the office of Australian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

The minister is in the United States and was not present when the protesters arrived at his electorate office in Geelong, Victoria.

Bike chain locks were used by some of the protesters to chain themselves by the neck at the minister’s reception area.

One of the organisers delivered a speech in front of Mr. Marles’ office, admitting he “doesn’t fully get the Palestinian situation at the moment” but demanded the government stop providing arms to Israel.

“There’s only limited stuff we can do here in the West to help the Palestinians,” he said in a video posted to X.

“One of those things we can do though, is we can put pressure on our own governments and on the corporations that operate on our land, to stop providing arms and resources to Israel that are only going to be used to ethnically cleanse Palestinians.”

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Five people were arrested and released pending summons, including three Victorians aged 24, 25, and 21 and two Northern Territory women aged 31 and 37.

The group described themselves as “anti-Zionist” activists, as well as First Nations mates and allies for a free Palestine. Many wore face masks, and said they were on Wadawurrung Country land.

In a Facebook post, the protesters said they “took over” the deputy prime minister’s office in Geelong and were there for almost five hours.

“I’m a Jewish trans-person living on unseated Aboriginal land. I’m here today protesting alongside my Jewish colleagues, First Nation colleagues, people from all different backgrounds and our allies....” one of the protesters said in a video shared on social media.

Anti-Zionist ideology opposes the creation of the modern state of Israel.

The activists released a press release titled “Not in our name” on Nov. 1, noting they were chained from their necks to Mr. Marles’ office.

The group demanded Mr. Marles and the federal Labor government withdraw diplomatic, economic, and military support for Israel’s alleged “occupation of Palestine.”

Mr. Marles said his first concern was for the safety and well-being of his staff.

“The abuse and destruction of property or goods is not acceptable,” Mr. Marles said in a statement cited by Nine. “Peaceful protest is a fundamental right in Australia’s democracy. It is important that as this occurs, it is done so safely and appropriately.”

The deputy prime minister is on a two-day visit to Washington D.C. where he has met with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Mr. Marles said he had a “really good conversation” about the progress of the trilateral AUKUS deal.

“If this were to pass, it is a once-in-a-generation change which will see a seamless defence industrial base created between Australia and the United States, which opens so many opportunities for the Australian defence industry, and, of course, opportunities for American defence industry companies to operate in Australia,” Mr. Marles said.

23 Australians Leave the Gaza Strip

Meanwhile, 23 people have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after escaping the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

Twenty of these people are Australian citizens and the others are being supported with consular assistance from the department.

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts said crossings like this occurred with support from Australian consular officials and diplomats in the region.

In total, 65 Australians still remain in Gaza and the government is making efforts to create safe passage across the Rafar crossing.

“Look, we’re incredibly relieved that overnight 23 individuals who had been registered the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including 20 Australians, were able to cross the border at Rafah,” Mr. Watts said in an interview with ABC on Nov. 2.

“They were met by Australian consular officials who are on the ground there in Egypt who were able to provide assistance with ongoing travel arrangements.”

Previously, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for proper screening of repatriated individuals from Gaza in an interview with 2GB.

“The government would need to be very wary about bringing people out of a very difficult war-torn environment at the moment,” Mr. Dutton said on Oct. 26.

“Ultimately the prime minister has got to act in our country’s best interest. And I don’t believe it’s in our country’s best interest to be increasing that intake at the moment without certainty about who those individuals are.”