Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt question time demanding sanctions to Israel

Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley were interrupted question time by protesters in the public gallery yelling: “Sanction Israel now”.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have disrupted question time, shouting “sanction Israel” amid growing pressure for Labor to recognise Palestinian statehood and take greater action on Israel amid the death of civilians in Gaza.

The group of five Canberra locals Katherine Kelly, 77, Marie Ryan, 78, Anne Yuille, 77, Dr Rosie Yuille, 74, Dr Joan Garvan, 74 staged a protest from the public gallery, repeatedly shouting: “Sanction Israel now,” carrying painted banners saying the same thing.

The protest began as Sussan Ley was asking her first question to Anthony Albanese.

Both party leaders continued speaking, ignoring the protesters who were removed from the public gallery.

The protesters started yelling as Anthony Albanese was kicking off Question Time. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley continued to ask the first question of Question Time despite the disruption. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The group was then escorted from Parliament House and haven been given a three-month ban from entering the building.

Chamber rules dictate media cannot take photos of the public gallery, however the live feed of question time showed MPs scanning their eyes across the chamber looking for the source of the disruption.

Ms Kelly said the group felt compelled to go to parliament to do “what we could” to show the government their anger over a lack of action against Israel.

The group of five Canberra locals said they felt compelled to do 'what we could' and encourage stronger action from the government. Picture: Supplied

While she welcomed the Prime Minister’s stronger condemnation of the Israeli government’s blocking of aid to civilians in Gaza, Ms Kelly said “words are not enough,” urging the government to cancel its contracts with Israeli defence contractors.

She pointed to Israeli company, Elbit Systems, which are primary contractors of South Korean firm Hanwha, which supply systems for Australian infantry fighting vehicles.

Australian company Lockheed Martin has also been linked to supplying parts for F-35 fighter jets used by the Israeli Defence Forces in strikes on Gaza.

“We felt we just had to do what we could to get the government to realise how people are feeling about this,” she said.

“This genocide has been going on for so long that it has reached such a horrendous state, we see the photos of the children starving and it’s heartbreaking, we thought we had to do something.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Mr Albanese rejected imposing sanctions on the Israeli government stating he wanted “meaningful action, not slogans”.

“They are a democracy, and we have, I think, taken appropriate action and it’s been, as I say, sanctioning ministers in a democratic government,” he said.

“If you can point to a comparison where that’s occurred, I’d be happy to hear it.”

He pointed to demonstrators who had shut down his electorate office in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, stating the stunts did not “advance” peace in Gaza, had resulted the office being shut down and had come at “great cost to the Commonwealth”.

The Prime Minister earlier told a press conference rejected imposing sanctions on Israel, Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Albanese also declined to give further indication over whether Australia would commit to recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September, declaring the decision would not be made to “(win) a political point”.

This is despite Foreign Minister Penny Wong issuing a joint statement alongside 14 other countries, including France and New Zealand earlier on Wednesday that declared Palestinian statehood was “an essential step” toward a two-state solution.

“I’ve said for a long time, my entire political life, (that) … I support two states, the right of Israel to exist within secure borders and the right of Palestinians to have their legitimate aspirations for their own state realised,” he said.

“That is my objective. Not making a statement, not winning a political point, but achieving that.”

Originally published as Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt question time demanding sanctions to Israel