23 People Arrested After Pro-Palestinian Protestors Attempt to Block Israeli Ship

A member of the Australian Palestinian community holds a Palestinian flag as others hold placards while on a jet ski during a protest at the Port Botany terminal in Sydney on November 21, 2023. Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images

More than 20 people have been arrested in Sydney following a pro-Palestinian protest at busy Port Botany in Sydney.

The activists organised against the arrival of a cargo ship owned by Israeli company ZIM while calling for a ceasefire amid the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

About 400 people assembled near the boat ramp at Foreshore Road, chanting and waving Palestinian flags near the boat ramp.

The protesters were seen in online videos clashing with police and allegedly 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 Attempt to Move Protestors

NSW Police said on Nov 21, 2023, they were made aware of the planned unauthorised protest at Port Botany.

Police began mobilising at 5 p.m., along with officers working in Operation Shelter, the riot squad, and mounted unit specialists.

The group gathered near the boat ramp at Foreshore Road before moving to the intersection of Sirius and Foreshore Roads.

“Police issued a group move-on direction, which was not complied with. The group continued to occupy Foreshore Road, blocking vehicle movement,” NSW Police said.

“Foreshore Road was subsequently closed in both directions, as police continued to issue move on directions to several members of the group. 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, Palestinian supporters claimed police caused scuffles with vision emerging of a child in a pram being carried through the crowd by protesters to avoid being crushed.

In a post on Nov. 21, Palestine Action Group Sydney had invited the public to join the action.

“There’s no place for ZIM in Port Botany. Come along tonight to put pressure on the port to suspend its contract with ZIM and on the Australian government to demand a complete ceasefire in Gaza and break its shameful silence on the war crimes that Apartheid Israel is committing against Palestinian families,” the group said on Facebook.

A child was seen carrying a sign “smash the Israeli terror state” on a jet ski in the water at Port Botany, followed by a police boat.

Members of the Australian Palestinian community hold placards as they sit on a jet ski during a protest at the Port Botany terminal in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 21, 2023. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

State Leader Supports Police

NSW Premier Chris Minns commended the police following the incident.

“You can’t have a situation” where NSW ports are being blocked, said the premier, adding this would cause “huge economic and reputational damage for our state, and our country.”

“We can’t have this situation every single week where Sydney grinds to a standstill and NSW Police have facilitated and been involved in 73 protests in the last six weeks, doing it in full consultation with protesters and the different groups in Sydney,” he said on Sky News.

“They have done a good job and they should be commended for their work in the last 24 hours.”

Mr. Minns said there had not been many arrests overall.

“People have a right to lawful protest and assembly in NSW. There are rules, and those rules are hate speech or blocking the roads, or in a situation where there’s an incitement to violence or racial vilification.”

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 on 2GB radio.

“The organisers of these rallies need to be sent a message that this is not the way that we go about things in Sydney.”

Members of the Australian Palestinian community hold a Palestinian flag as others hold placards while on a jet ski during a protest at the Port Botany terminal in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 21, 2023. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

This is not the first time that pro-Palestinian activists have protested against an Israeli cargo ships.

On Nov. 11, protesters on jet skis attempted to block another Israeli ship from entering port.

The demonstrators were seen chanting “free free Palestine” and holding “block the boats” signs.