On Monday April 15, a group of Kaurna Yerta based activists held a ‘die in’ at Senator Penny Wong’s office to protest the government’s ongoing complicity in, and facilitation of, the genocide occurring in Gaza – a genocide which has been enabled by international forces, like Australia, to continue for over six months.
This die in protest sought to both honour the lives of the 40,000+ Palestinian people, 14,500+ of these children, who have been killed at the hands of this regime, and the approximately 13,000 who are currently missing, whilst seeking to raise awareness of Australia’s ongoing links to the Israeli military and occupation forces.
Whilst not a direct, economic disruption, the action was planned to coincide, and show solidarity, with the global
‘A15 Economic Blockade Movement to Free Palestine’ which coordinated efforts to “identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact”.
The Kaurna based protest follows the recent assassination of aid workers, including Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom, by Israeli led F-35 fighter jets – assassinations which occurred mere weeks after both Labor and Liberal voted down a Greens led motion calling on the Federal government “to immediately end all trade of military equipment with the State of Israel”.
This die-in protest joins wider calls for the Australian federal government to cut its $1.2 billion contract with Elbit systems. Elbit systems is an Israeli owned weapons manufacturing company that has supplied the Israeli military with 85% of their drone and land-based weaponry and which continues to provide Australia with military weaponry that, as the company itself boasts, has been ‘field tested’ on Palestinian people.
This protest also seeks to highlight that Australian based companies, like Heat Treatment Australia and Rosebank Australia, continue to produce and supply Israel with crucial components for the F-35 fighter jet. As Rawan Arraf, from the Australian Centre for International Justice, asserts – it is undeniable that every F-35 jet used by the Israeli military regime includes parts that have been manufactured in, and supplied by, Australia.
As such, Australia is not simply complicit, but has played an active role in each death caused by an F-35 fighter jet.
These companies have a particularly strong presence in South Australia and have been quietly facilitating a genocide from our own backyard. We intend to continue protesting this issue until the government ceases all transfers of military related material to Israel.
Activist groups participating in the A15 movement have committed to acting “in solidarity with each other in the face of attacks from the media, politicians and the police and the Zionist project.” If seeking further comment on the A15 movement, please contact key A15 organisers directly via:
A15EconomicBlockade@proton.me
The following is a statement provided by one activist involved in Kaurna Yerta’s A15 solidarity action and the Free Palestine movement:
“Adelaide activists commemorate A15 alongside all cities in Australia to send a strong and firm message to foreign minister Penny Wong. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and an emerging climate disaster, we the people reject the Australian status quo. This status quo which has perpetuated and armed a genocidal ethno-state over investing in the livelihood and welfare of Australians.
With nearly 50,000 Gazans killed over the past 6 months and mass starvation manufactured by Australia’s terrorist ally Israel, we send a message to Penny Wong and the Australian government that we do not accept this. We disrupt the economy, and we disrupt business as usual because we demand change.
We point our finger at Penny Wong and hold her responsible for the bombing of hospitals and schools. We blame Penny Wong and the Australian government for Israels use of white phosphorus on women and children.
There is blood on the hands of the Australian government and the stench of innocent blood spilt has awakened within us a force that cannot be diminished.
A15 is just the beginning.
Australia’s funding of this horrific genocide is the beginning of the end of an empire sustained by weapons and fossil fuels.
The fight for a free Palestine is the fight for climate justice.
The fight for a Free Palestine is the fight for a free world.
A15 is the beginning of the end of a wretched system.
Penny Wong, heed our message.
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