Protesters demanding ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war gather at Port of Oakland

OAKLAND — Pounding drums and chanting “stop the occupation,” scores of protesters gathered Friday at the Port of Oakland to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The protest began nearly an hour before sunrise Friday and continued into the afternoon around the Cape Orlando vessel, a ship with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, authorities said. It had been docked at Berth 20, and was later seen leaving the port mid-afternoon.

The protest’s organizers said they believed the ship was carrying military supplies, though that claim could not be immediately verified.

A Bay Area News Group photographer saw at least three people being detained after scaling a ladder leading up the side of the ship. No arrests were immediately announced by the U.S. Coast Guard, which said the incident remains under investigation.

The protest comes nearly a month after an attack by Hamas on people living across southern Israel on Oct. 7 left more than 1,400 Israelis dead. Hundreds of other people were taken hostage. Israel has since bombarded Gaza with missiles and, more recently, embarked on a grinding invasion of Gaza, leading to thousands of Palestinian deaths  in a conflict that has raised concerns of a burgeoning humanitarian crisis.

A statement from the Department of Defense said that the agency was aware of the incident and working “closely with interagency partners, to include the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement to ensure the security and safety of military assets and personnel operating at commercial facilities.” It added that the vessel was under operational control of the Maritime Administration, and that it would not comment on the cargo of such vessels.

Staff photographer Ray Chavez contributed to this report.