Palestinian-Australian parents and a Freedom Flotilla survivor occupied the roof of federal MP Justine Elliot’s electorate office in Tweed Heads yesterday, Thursday, 16 May. They said they were sending the urgent message to ‘stop the genocide in Gaza. Stop starving our children. Take action now. This occupation is ongoing.’
The death toll reached 50,000 according to the Palestinian health ministry following the resumption of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza on 18 March as reported by the ABC.
Three protesters who went onto the roof of Mrs Elliott’s office were arrested, according to NSW Police.
‘About 8.50am Thursday, 15 May officers from Tweed-Byron Police District responded to reports of a protest group of about 35 people gathering in a carpark along Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South,’ said a police spokesperson.
‘The group proceeded along the roadway to an office. Officers directed the group off the roadway to which they complied. A short time later three males – a 40-year-old and two aged 54 – were arrested without incident for allegedly trespassing on the roof of the office after unfolding banners. They were taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.
‘All three were charged with trespassing and were granted conditional bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday, 16 June.’
Children suffering
‘This action takes place on Palestinians’ Invasion Day – Nakba Day, May 15th — marking 77 years since over 750,000 Palestinians were violently ethnically cleansed from their homes during the founding of the Israeli state,’ said a spokesperson for the Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine.
The activists flew flags and dropped a big banner with the slogan ‘Let Gaza’s children live: No weapons for genocide’.
Local Australian-Palestinian Subhi Awad said that, ‘Every night, before I try to sleep, I picture the faces of my friends’ children in Gaza, their small bodies growing weaker with each passing day. We hear the bombs, even from here, in our hearts.’
‘We climbed onto this roof not because we want to be criminals, but because our government’s inaction is criminal. How can they stand by while a million children are deliberately starved? We are here to demand our humanity be recognized, and for Justine Elliot to finally look us in the eye and explain her complicity. Let the children of Gaza live.’
Meet with us
The group say they are calling on the Member for Richmond, who has refused to meet with them for 18 months, to meet with them directly and explain her continued silence and support for Israel, given that the ICJ had determined in the 2024 case brought by South Africa that it was plausible that Palestinian people had a right to protection from genocide.
Responding to yesterday’s protest incident Mrs Elliot said, ‘My electorate office provides assistance to constituents on many matters including Medicare, social security, aged care, NDIS and other matters, and many people were not able to get that assistance due to this protest. Peaceful protests are fundamental to our democracy, but they must be peaceful. My staff working in the office deserve respect, not abuse and unsafe work environments.’
The Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine group’s demands are:
- Comply with international law: Recognise the State of Palestine, commit to arresting Israeli officials indicted for war crimes by the ICC, halt all weapons exports and military support to Israel
- End Australia’s complicity: Impose full sanctions on Israel until it complies with international law
- Deliver urgent humanitarian aid: Deploy Australian naval ships with medical and humanitarian teams to Gaza
‘We are risking arrest because we cannot risk silence,’ said Mr Awad.
‘Justine Elliot must look us in the eye and explain her complicity. We are here for one reason: to let the children of Gaza live.’
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