"From hunger strikes to 12-hour sit-ins, protesters are going to great lengths to end the war in Gaza"

...The nature strip just outside the Webb Dock in Port Melbourne has been made into a temporary home for at least 50 protesters.

They are camping out to disrupt what they believe are arms shipments to aid Israel in its invasion of Gaza.

Riyad, a registered nurse, says he will continue without food "even if it kills" him to get his message across to the Australian government...

He mourns 10 relatives and at least six friends who have been killed in the recent turmoil in the Gaza Strip.  

Nation-wide protests have been staged throughout the week from Sydney's Botany Bay to Port Melbourne, with demonstrators aiming to stop Israeli national shipping company ZIM from sending military goods to Israel.

On its website, ZIM confirms it does send shipments to Israel, but in a statement sent to the ABC denied any shipments between Australia and Israel.

"ZIM vessels serve the Australian market and Australian customers and consumers. The ships carry all type of Asia consumer products such as white goods, textile, food staff etc, they do not carry arms shipments of any kind."

This comes after ZIM CEO Eli Glickman on Facebook last month said: "The company's ships will be directed, as a first priority, to transfer cargo from anywhere in the world to Israel according to the requirements and needs of the Ministry of Defence and the government of Israel."...

Riyad and Block the Dock protesters are calling for the Australian government to stop its involvement in what Riyad says is aiding Israel with weapons to "kill thousands of innocent people"...

Last week, around 500 activists blockaded the Webb Dock and delayed at least one ZIM shipping carrier for 12 hours, organisers said. 

Some laid out on the road in front of trucks, refusing to let them pass.

Since then, they have been camped out for a week and plan to stay put for as long as it takes "to save lives in Gaza"...

Australia is being asked by rights groups, politicians and activists to prove how it can ensure equipment isn't being used in breach of humanitarian law, and to halt military exports to Israel altogether.

A Defence spokesperson told the ABC that "Australia's defence exports are conducted in line with our stringent and robust export guidelines and international obligations"...

What started as an independent "sit-in" for Gaza has now turned into a movement for peaceful protesters in Melbourne.

Dozens of people from diverse backgrounds and communities now join him in his protest...

Uncle Ihab and his followers help educate others about what they say is an "ongoing occupation of Palestine". 

Every single conversation has always been absolutely peaceful, he says.

"Being 30 days here … I've been approached by plenty of pro-Israelis, and every conversation has been good, we shake hands...