A group of pro-Palestinian activists are expected to appear in court after staging a demonstration on the roof of a Melbourne factory.
Eight activists aged between 26 and 62 were arrested on Monday afternoon, hours after climbing onto the roof of an aircraft factory in Bayswater, in the city’s east, at around 6am.
The group claimed that the company manufactured parts for fighter jets used by the Israeli military.
Eight activists aged between 26 and 62 were arrested on Monday afternoon, hours after climbing onto the roof of an aircraft factory in Bayswater in the city’s east about 6am.
“We are protesting the fact that Australia is exporting weapons and weapon parts to Israel, and Israel is committing genocide, as we are now saying on the radio,” Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance spokeswoman Gaye Demanuele told 3AW.
“We believe that people in Australia should know exactly where weapons are being manufactured and where they are being sent.”
Protesters refused to come off the roof for several hours before speaking to police late Monday afternoon and saying they were ready to get off, Victoria Police claim.
Officers organized an aerial platform to bring them down safely, but no one was injured.
They later arrested the eight, including six Melbourne women, a Melbourne man and a NSW woman.
The protesters were all charged with trespassing, causing criminal damage and disguising themselves with unlawful intent, police said.
Police officers were forced to use an aerial platform to remove the demonstrators from the factory roof
The group were granted bail at Ringwood Magistrates Court on July 11.
Intergenerational conflict in the Middle East between Palestinians and Israelis escalated on October 7 when Islamist militants linked to Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza.
According to the United Nations, more than 1,200 people have been killed and another 200 have been taken hostage.
Israel’s subsequent military action has resulted in the deaths of more than 29,000 people in Gaza, with the UN citing unconfirmed data provided by the local Ministry of Health and the Gaza Government Media Office.