Protesters target Israeli hostage families with pro-Palestine signs, bloodied dolls

From The Age

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the condemnation of a protest at a Melbourne hotel where family members of some of the Israelis who were killed or taken hostage by Hamas were staying while on a visit to Australia.

The group of pro-Palestinian protesters stood in the lobby of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Docklands on Wednesday night holding Palestinian flags and a large sign with the words “Stop arming Israel” and “Free Palestine”, and placed two bloodied dolls on the ground.

Footage of the protest, circulated on social media, shows the group at the top of escalators chanting “shame”, as four police officers approach them.

Deputy head of mission for the Israeli embassy in Australia Chris Cantor said the delegation of family members had finished meeting Jewish community members when they encountered the protesters on Wednesday night.

Victoria Police confirmed officers moved on a group of about 20 protesters who had walked into the lobby of the Spencer Street hotel with flags and signs about 10pm. No one was injured.

In a statement released on social media, the pro-Palestinian protesters, who identify as “an autonomous group of pro-Palestine activists”, said the protest was aimed at Israeli embassy officials and the Crowne Plaza hotel for hosting them.

“The group of activists is committed to non-violence. The Israeli delegation came seeking military support and war,” it read.

A Free Palestine Melbourne spokesperson said the group did not organise or condone the protest.

Caulfield MP David Southwick, who is Jewish, said the protests “beggared belief”, given some of those staying at the hotel had children murdered in the October 7 attack.