Pro-Palestine protesters freed from concrete in Alice Springs, Darwin Jewish community condemns conflict

An activist duo whose arms were secured in a concrete barrel have been freed during a pro-Palestine protest. Meanwhile, a leader of the Darwin Jewish community has called for peace.

A concrete barrel securing the arms of two pro-Palestine protesters has been destroyed, but one activist’s arm is still stuck in a pipe.

The duo were part of a protest group blocking the main access road to the Pine Gap US military facility on Monday morning.

The pair – including social worker Tommy Walker – opted to each secure an arm in a cement barrel instead of raising a banner with their colleagues.

Firefighters arrived at the scene about 6.30am to begin removing the barrel and it was safely taken apart shortly before 11am.

An NT Police spokesman said a 39-year-old and a 32-year-old had been issued a notice to appear in court for traffic and summary offences.

An Arrernte writer and activist has called on Territorians – and the world – to not look away from the brutal conflict in Gaza.

Declan Furber Gillick said it was important the humanitarian crisis between Israel and Palestine remain in the public eye seven weeks after the biggest attack the region had seen in decades.

“It is really important to keep the public aware that this is continuing and that things on the ground in Gaza are still catastrophic,” Mr Gillick said.

“People and journalists in Gaza are very limited in what they can get out there and so we don’t want the world to forget that this is happening.

“In particular, we don’t want people to be unaware that Pine Gap exists and is deeply involved in the transmission of information and intelligence that is used by the United States.”

Mr Furber’s plea comes as a group of about 35 protesters block the main access road to the Pine Gap US military facility in Mparntwe, Alice Springs.

Mr Gillick said his family had opposed Pine Gap’s installation four decades ago.

“US militarism wasn’t welcome then and it’s not welcome now,” he said.

“Palestinians are being bombed relentlessly by a genocidal apartheid regime that uses military intelligence gathered on Arrernte country and I won’t stand for it.”

The pro-Palestine group are once again calling for the facility’s closure and the federal government’s withdrawal of support for what they describe as “Israel’s genocidal occupation of Palestine”.

Darwin Jewish community spokesman Rabbi Menachem Aron said Israel wanted peace with the Palestinian community, but “the only way to achieve this is by the removal of Hamas from power in the Gaza strip”.

“Australia must continue to provide support to Israel to defend itself and its citizens against terrorist organisations like Hamas,” he said.

“Our message is that this conflict has to be resolved in the long term so that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.”

Pro-Palestine protesters block access to the Pine Gap military facility on Monday.

The protesters – made up of Arrernte Traditional Owners, health workers, and other community members – held signs reading “Close Pine Gap, stop genocide” and “Free Palestine” at the protest site.

The group’s claims come after a Declassified Australia article circulated earlier this month quoting a former Pine Gap worker, who alleged the facility was being used to monitor the Gaza Strip and gather intelligence “useful to Israel”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles’ office has been contacted for comment.