A demonstration in the American port of Oakland to block a ship suspected of transporting weapons to Israel

 More than 100 demonstrators gathered in the Port of Oakland, California, to block the sailing of a ship they said was carrying a shipment of American military aid to Israel.

The demonstrators demanded an end to American military support to Israel and a ceasefire. They also accused officials in President Joe Biden's administration of staining their hands with the blood of Palestinian children.

The police intervened and arrested 3 demonstrators who boarded the ship to prevent it. It is expected that the ship will meet more objections when it reaches Washington state.

Footage posted on social media showed police intervening to break up the demonstration.

Some human rights organizations learned from some workers at the Port of Oakland that the ship was preparing to head to the Port of Tacoma in Washington, where it was expected to be loaded with weapons and then headed to the occupied territories. So demonstrators headed to the port carrying Palestinian flags and banners and stationed themselves on the pier where the ship was standing, and they succeeded in disrupting its movement.

It is noteworthy that the Arab Resource and Organization Center (AROC) issued an urgent appeal on its Instagram page to stop the ship.

The ship was scheduled to depart on Friday, November 3, 2023, and the demonstrators are still in the port. The demonstrations may continue for several days, but it is considered a success for human rights organizations concerned with the Palestinian issue, which seek, among other peaceful means, to stop the United States military support for the occupying forces.

The demonstrators expressed their hope that everyone would do their part if the ship went to Washington, and that all countries of the world would do the same if they learned of any weapons leaving their ports to contribute to the massacres committed by the occupation forces, as they put it.

The US administration has confirmed more than once through officials its support for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip, where more than 9,000 were martyred and about 23,000 wounded, in addition to more than 2,000 missing as a result of the Israeli bombing of the Strip.

On the 7th of last month, the Palestinian resistance, led by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” in response to Israeli violations in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and was able to capture and kill hundreds of Israelis.

Source: Al Jazeera