‘Forced to hide:’ Melbourne protesters ambush Israeli hostage families, Dutton says they should have been arrested
The Liberal leader has condemned protesters who placed fake babies covered in blood on the floor of a Melbourne hotel where distraught Israelis are staying.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton says the pro-Palestinaian activists who stormed a Melbourne hotel where the loved ones of Israeli hostages were staying “should have been arrested”, labelling their behaviour as “disgraceful”.
“They were clearly intended to intimidate those Israelis whose loved ones have been killed or taken hostage by Hamas. These actions threatened Australians of Jewish faith,” Mr Dutton said.
“Only by holding those accountable for hate speech can we ensure we turn the tide of anti-Semitism in Australia right now, which has increased five-fold since 7 October.
“There must be severe consequences for protestors who commit anti-Semitic acts and law enforcement authorities should have arrested these protesters.”
The group of around 20 protestors filed into the Spencer Street hotel lobby before unfurling banners reading “Stop arming Israel. Free Palestine” and “Zionism is Fascism” while using a megaphone to chant “shame”.
The group of five Israeli delegates travelled to Australia earlier this week to meet with political leaders and share the plight of their family and friends who were killed or taken hostage on October 7.
The family members of Israeli hostages were forced to hide after the pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the hotel in which they were staying on Wednesday evening.
The activists entered the hotel lobby at 10pm before they placed fake babies covered in blood on the hotel floor.
It is believed the group targeted the loved ones of those killed or taken hostage after learning of their location following an event at Mount Scopus Memorial College.
The Israeli delegation participated in a forum hosted at the Jewish school and organised by Zionism Victoria, where about 900 members of the Israeli and wider community gathered.
Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance said the pro-Palestine activists staged the protest to confront state officials from the Israeli Embassy.
“An autonomous group of pro-Palestine activists went to Crowne Plaza on Wednesday night to confront a delegation of state officials from the Israeli Embassy who were scheduled to be meeting there at that time. Crowne Plaza is well aware of this,” the organisation said.
“The protest was directed at the genocide-enacting officials, and at Crowne Plaza for hosting them.
“The Israeli state delegation had the explicit purpose of seeking more Australian support for the genocide it is committing in Gaza.”
The statement was reposted by Free Palestine Melbourne, the group responsible for organising the weekly protests in the CBD.
“The group of activists are committed to non violence. The Israeli delegation came seeking military support and war,” the alliance’s statement continued.
“The Australian government needs to listen to thousands who demand it ends its complicity in Israel’s active genocide. It must not cave to pressure from Israeli state officials who want a continuation of war.
“The Australian government should follow the lead of other powers and cut diplomatic and military ties with Israel.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said it was “outrageous to retraumatise people”, as she learned of the pro-Palestinian protest overnight in a press conference.
“I’d be really clear, this is the first I’ve heard that report,” Ms Allan told the media on Thursday morning. “What I will say is that people who are suffering grief and loss as a consequence of the awful conflict that’s going on in the Middle East deserve our respect and care and support.
“Not being further traumatised in what is already a very difficult and traumatic time for many in our community.
“The work we’ve been doing in Victoria supporting our Jewish community, supporting our communities who have families in both Israel and Palestine have been our priority.”
The Premier said there have been families in “deep distress” since the October 7 attacks.
“We should not be adding to that distress by these kind of ... they’re not just unnecessary acts, but it’s pretty outrageous to retraumatise people who are deeply traumatised.”
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Amit Parapara, a friend of Israeli hostage Noa Argamani, said the group was “forced to hide” as the activists entered the building.
“There was a pro-Palestinian rally, a big one, in the hotel, not outside, in the hotel where we stay,” Mr Parapara said. “We are now hiding.”
Mr Parapara told the Herald Sun on Wednesday that he had “attended the funerals of four friends in the last 53 days” after they were killed at the Supernova festival, where Ms Argamani was taken hostage.
The five member group is in Australia to meet with political leaders including Anthony Albanese, as they continue their campaign to have their loved ones released from captivity. They travelled to Melbourne to see members of the Jewish community and remind Victorians of the plight of hostages still in captivity. They travel to Sydney today.
Several Victorian MPs slammed the ambush as “appalling” and “intimidating.”
“People wearing masks, staring down people who were in this parliament just yesterday,” said Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines
Victorian Liberal MP David Southwick said: “There is a time for people to be able to talk about their difference,” and questioned the protesters’ motives.
“What were these activists protesting about? What were they doing there?
“These are people who have lost loved ones, that have hostages still kidnapped for over 50 days. What were they doing at that hotel?”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the protest was not a reflection of “fellow Australians”.
“It is difficult to imagine a more hateful and disgusting act than targeting families of Israeli hostages who are visiting our country to talk about their fear and trauma,” Mr Ryvchin said.
Shameful scenes in Melbourne, Australia. A delegation of Israeli hostages’ family members visited Melbourne for meetings and were unable to enter their hotel after pro-Palestinian protesters staged an anti-Israel protest in the lobby. @MenachemVpic.twitter.com/DSDy8vfZ1ipic.twitter.com/GUNWbnFRA7
— Jonathan Harounoff (@JonathanHaroun1) November 29, 2023
“The anti-Israel movement is becoming indistinguishable from Neo-Nazism in its complete disregard for any norms of decency and their obsession with intimidating and harassing the most vulnerable targets. We stand in complete solidarity with the hostage families.
“They are our families and we assure them that the thuggery that confronted them is no reflection of the decency and humanity of our fellow Australians.”
In a statement Victoria Police said the group was “quickly moved on” by police.
“Police responded to protest activity in Docklands on 29 November.
“It is understood approximately twenty people walked into a hotel lobby on Spencer Street with flags and signs about 10pm.
“No one was injured during the incident,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
The Embassy of Israel has confirmed the families of the hostages were made to feel unsafe as the protesters entered the Docklands hotel but the five Israeli delegates will continue their time in Australia.
“Despite this event, the delegation will continue their Australian tour and share their plea for support for their family members who remain hostages to Hamas terrorists in tunnels under Gaza,” the embassy said in a statement.
“Ambassador Maimon expressed deep disappointment at the feeling of insecurity experienced by the members of the Israeli delegation.”
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) said they were “disgusted” by the protesters who “intimidated the families of hostages taken by the terrorist organisation Hamas”.
“There is support for the Palestinian cause, and then there is the vile, cruel intimidation of people whose loved ones have been kidnapped by rapists, murderers and torturers,” ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said.
I condemn the extreme behaviour on display last night, in the strongest possible terms. I condemn the antisemitism. I condemn targeting people in their moment of grief.
— Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) November 30, 2023
Whatever your views, we all expect Victorians to act with decency and humanity.
“It is absolutely disgusting that anyone would seek to intimidate these relatives, who are already suffering the trauma of having their family members kidnapped or murdered. These protesters need to take a long look in the mirror and ask why they are supporting a terrorist regime.”
Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb called the behaviour “a cancer on our multicultural society”.
“When people invade the hotel of families who have come to share their stories and speak of hope, only to be met by obscenities and hate. This behaviour must be condemned. It is a cancer on our multicultural society,” he said.
“This is simply not good enough and our once-prized Victorian multicultural and tolerant society is dying.”
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said Melbourne’s international reputation is at risk and that the hotel hosting the Israeli delegation has “a lot to answer for”.
“This is a state of emergency for the Jewish community, and these anti-Israel extremists are tearing to shreds this city’s international reputation,” he told The Australian.
“I am afraid that if urgent action is not taken to stem the tide of this antisemitism, being Jewish in Melbourne will be a liability and a high target for harassment and violence.
“We cannot even go into an hotel without being assailed by a full-throated anti-semitic movement that is threatening our sense of well-being.”
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