|
November 30, 2023
A member of a delegation of loved ones of those killed or taken hostage by Hamas says they felt “ambushed” by a large group of Palestine supporters shouting and chanting slogans at a Melbourne hotel on Wednesday.
Videos shared online at about 11.30pm on Wednesday showed several police officers confronting protesters who were waving Palestinian flags and holding banners in what appeared to be the lobby of the Crowne Plaza Melbourne.
One demonstrator could be heard in the footage shouting into a megaphone.
“Shame, shame, shame,” they said.
Elad Levy, a member of the delegation, described to SkyNews.com.au what happened when his group arrived at the hotel after meeting with the local Jewish community and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan earlier that day.
“Last night, we got to the hotel at around 10:30pm after a very emotional service and meeting with the Jewish community,” he said.
“As soon as we got in we heard loud voices and chants.”
He said a congregation of 20 to 30 protesters had positioned themselves in front of the elevators in the lobby, effectively blocking guests from accessing their rooms.
“We saw that and we kind of like immediately … we took a few steps back to stay calm,” he said.
“And we expected the hotel security would evacuate them very quickly.
“And what happened was the opposite. We had to leave the hotel for our own safety.”
Mr Levy said he and the rest of the delegation went to the nearby police station and stayed there for an hour while police attempted to remove the protesters from the hotel.
“Took them an hour to remove them from the hotel lobby,” he said.
“You can imagine what it does to us. It was kind of like, we felt very insecure at that moment.”
He said the protesters appeared to be well prepared, carrying flags, banners and equipment with them.
When asked how the protesters came to be aware of where the delegation was staying in Melbourne, he said the group “knew” they were coming.
“They knew that we were staying, they knew that we were coming. They came with equipment.”
Mr Levy said he felt the protesters were “ambushing” the delegation.
Victoria Police said officers responded to protest activity in the Docklands on November 29 and did not confirm whether anyone had been arrested over the incident.
“It is understood approximately twenty people walked into a hotel lobby on Spencer Street with flags and signs about 10pm,” a statement said.
“The group were moved on by police.
“No one was injured during the incident.”
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson spoke to Sky News Australia on Thursday and labelled the incident as “sick”.
“What kind of person goes to harass and protest the family members of the victims of hostage taking by a terrorist organisation,” he said.
“You have to be a pretty sick person to think that is an appropriate way to behave.”
The delegation’s visit to Australia is part of an initiative from the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism.
The Embassy of Israel in Australia on Monday issued a statement on X confirming the delegation will continue on their Australian tour despite being made to feel “unsafe” the “screaming throng” of protesters.
The group previously met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles at Parliament House in Canberra.
“I thank them for meeting with us, for sharing their time and their experiences. Australia continues to call for the immediate release of all hostages,” Ms Wong said in a post to X.
About 240 Israeli civilians and foreign nationals were taken hostage by Hamas when it launched its attack on the Jewish state from the sea, sky and air on October 7.
Israel has confirmed 1,200 citizens were killed during the assault, with US President Joe Biden describing it as the “deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust”.
A ceasefire agreement has secured the release of more than 50 captives since Friday.
At least 160 hostages remain trapped in Gaza by Hamas.
Crowne Plaza Melbourne was contacted for comment.
