Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have set up picket lines at Fremantle Port in an effort to prevent workers from loading a ship owned by an Israeli company.
Key points:
- The protesters are targeting Israeli international shipping line Zim
- Zim said recently it was positioning its ships to aid Israel’s defence ministry
- It is understood police have so far made one arrest
The activists were met by a large police presence, with two Patrick Terminal entrances heavily manned and blocked off to protesters.
The protesters are targeting ZIM, an Israeli international shipping line, with many of them carrying Palestinian flags and chanting: “Free Palestine.”
Last month, ZIM chief executive Eli Glickman said the company would be “positioning its ships and infrastructure” to aid Israel’s defence ministry.
The protest was organised by Unionists for Palestine and Friends of Palestine WA.
Organisers said the action was initially planned for 24 hours, but they now intended to return at specific times to prevent the shift change of workers.
Company’s bottom line the ‘target’
Grace Brooks from Unionists for Palestine said the intent was to hit the company financially.
“We’re responding to the call from Palestinian trade unionists to refuse to load and unload Israeli cargo,” she said.
“This is a peaceful protest.
“The target of this campaign is definitely the bottom line of that shipping company.”
It is understood that so far five protesters have been given notices to move one and one has been arrested.
