Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt traffic by throwing body bags, reports Australian Associated Press

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Melbourne's busiest intersection during a sit-in protest, throwing fragments and body bags into the area, reports the Australian Associated Press. Activists gathered on Sunday at the corner of Flinders and Swanson streets to recreate scenes of destruction from an explosion, igniting signal flares and waving mock missiles and drones, while others lay on the ground pretending to be victims.

“Today the city witnessed the sights and sounds of war in Gaza,” the activists said in a statement. Calling the blockage of the city intersection a “mere inconvenience,” the group stated that it pales in comparison to the destruction of 80 percent of buildings in Gaza or the deaths of 38,000 people, half of whom are children.

The group urged the federal government to halt weapons production, exports, and contracts with Israel and Israeli companies, as well as to impose sanctions against Israel and expel the Israeli ambassador.