Protests call out Israel’s targeted killing of women and children in Gaza

November 18, 2024

Issue

A national day of action against Caltex on November 16. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

As Gazans survive 407 days of Israel’s genocidal bombardment, thousands of people protested for an end to the enabling of Israel’s genocide for the 58^th consecutive week, over November 16–17.

Israel is forcibly displaced people in the Beit Lahiya area in the north, the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza and in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

It is also preventing medics, food and aid from entering the north, where 100,000 people are desperate for the world to act.

continue to be targets: they make up nearly 70% of the verified deaths in Gaza, according to the United Nations.

Overall, 44% of those killed were children, with the biggest single category aged five to nine, followed by those aged 10–14, and then those zero to four.

Israel has failed to meet United States President Joe Biden’s 30-day deadline to provide aid to northern Gaza, where the UN said a famine is imminent. But the has still not triggered laws requiring it to withhold military support.

Meanwhile, Israel has assassinated Mohammad Afif, the long-time media advisor to the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

According to Hani Mahmoud, Israel’s non-stop air attacks on residential buildings are part of its long-term plan to build military zones to separate the north, centre and south of Gaza.

Pope Francis has also stepped up his call for an investigation into allegations of Israeli genocide, which adds pressure to those Western countries supporting Israel.

Nihad Awa, from the United States Council on American-Islamic Relations, said while it welcomes the Pope’s call, “Numerous UN and internationally authoritative bodies concluded that Israel is committing a genocide. What is needed is action to stop that genocide.”

Meanwhile, drone attacks from Iraq on the Israeli port city of Eilat are reported to have hit a “vital target”. Houthis in Yemen also claimed that their drones have hit several Israeli military and other “vital targets” in the Yaffa and Ashkelon areas.

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Protesters in Gadigal Country/Sydney demand an end to Australia’s complicity in genocide. Photo: Rachel Evans

Thousands joined the protest in Gadigal Country/Sydney on November 17 to demand sanctions be placed on Israel in line with calls from the International Court of Justice.

Speakers encouraged people to join the People’s Blockade of the world’s biggest coal port in Muloobinba/Newcastle from November 19–25, as to Israel and it therefore complicit in genocide.

The “Free Palestine Flotilla” on November 23 will wave Palestinian and Lebanese flags on Nobby’s Beach.

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Bondi Beach. Photo: Eastern Suburbs for Palestine

Anti-Zionist Jewish activists rallied at Bondi Beach on November 16 to say: “Not in our name”, expressing their opposition to the genocide.

Jews Against the Occupation ’48 launched an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to demand Labor act in accordance with international law.

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Protesting Caltex for its complicity in genocide. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Actions were held outside Caltex service stations across the country to highlight Chevron’s role in fuelling Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Chevron is the parent company of Caltex and Puma.

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Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Alex Bainbridge reports that more than 50 people braved heavy rain to join a protest at the Dutton Park Caltex service station in Magan-djin/Brisbane on November 16.

Activists held signs that read “Caltex fuels genocide” and “Boycott Israel now”. Caltex is a target of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Chevron owns and operates the largest natural gas fields in the Occupied Palestinian territories, Tamar and Leviathan, as well as the EMG gas pipeline off the shore of Gaza.

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Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide. Photo: Jordan Ellis

Activists in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide pointed out that 70% of Israel’s power comes from Chevron: it is used to fuel military bases, police stations, prisons and illegal settlements.

Actions were also held in Bendigo, Wendouree, Boorloo/Perth, Gold Coast, Gadigal Country/Sydney and Garamilla/Darwin.

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Protesting Caltex on the Gold Coast. Photo: Gold Coast for Palestine

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The community picket outside Bisalloy Steel in Tharwal/Wollongong. Photo: Wollongong Friends of Palestine

The Illawarra community successfully shut the Bisalloy Steel factory in Tharawal/Wollongong on November 15. Hundreds joined a picket from 6am–10am, after which it became clear that Bisalloy had shut down the site for the day.

Bisalloy produces armoured steel for tanks and vehicles used by Israel. This was the fourth community picket to be organised at the site.

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Picket outside the Electromold factory in Thomastown. Photo supplied

On the same day, Victoria Police used force to break up a picket of more than 60 people outside the Electromold factory in Thomastown, Naarm/Melbourne.

Electromold is a chemical processing facility that helps produce weapons components, including for the F-35 fighter jets being used to bomb Gaza.