Members of the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia’s biggest city, were warned Monday to stay home and avoid being identified while supporters of the Palestinian terror group Hamas marched through the Central Business District to gather at the iconic Opera House.
Australian Jewish Association President David Adler told Sky News an email was sent to the Jewish community warning them to avoid the harbor front building and the center of the city as Palestinian terrorist supporters hijacked what was supposed to be a tribute to fallen Israelis.
“We’ve seen one or two Jewish people who turned up early, who have been taken away by police because they carried an Israeli flag,” Adler told Sky News host Andrew Bolt.
“An email went around to the Jewish community warning us to stay out of the city of Sydney tonight, to stay away from the Town Hall area, to stay away from the Opera House area.
“We would be at risk if we were identified as Jewish in Sydney.”
Police warn – No Jews near Opera house for their own safety as Muslim mobs gather to celebrate death.
Why make a tribute to Jewish victims if they can’t even go near.
This is Sydney’s CBD pic.twitter.com/8iEYvwEbkZ
— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) October 9, 2023
The Sydney rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, is demanding Australia cut ties with Israel and urging supporters to “protest in solidarity with Palestine.”
It follows the unprecedented Hamas terrorist attack on Israel over the weekend that claimed hundreds of Israeli lives, as Breitbart News reported.
People reportedly carried Palestinian flags, wearing black, white, red and green, and carrying banners with messages such as “Apartheid, wrong in South Africa, wrong in Palestine” and “Free Palestine.”
Jews are warned to avoid the Sydney CBD (they marched past my office)
Protest chanting “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free”
Their problem is not that Jews were massacred and raped — it’s that they weren’t ALL massacred
They’re literally telling you https://t.co/nYYX5OUB6j
— Misha Saul (@misha_saul) October 9, 2023
As the march set off a supporter of Israel was quickly detained and arrested by police.
Jew detained for waving Israeli flag as thousands of Pro-Palestinians cheer
Sydney – Town Hall pic.twitter.com/li5atjjMpr
— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) October 9, 2023
Speaking from the Sydney Town Hall gathering point, activist and academic Fahad Ali called on the crowd to “resist Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
“We’ve suffered 75 years of dispossession, denied our rights to life and liberty, under an ever-worsening occupation by a colonial regime that has perpetrated every kind of atrocity upon us,” he declared.
Hundreds of attendees cheered as dozens of people waved Palestinian flags, AAP reports.
Protesters show their support for Palestinians during a rally in front of the Opera House in Sydney on October 9, 2023.(IZHAR KHAN/AFP via Getty)
Protesters show their support for Palestinians during a rally in Sydney on October 9, 2023. (DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)
Pro-Palestinian supporters take to the streets of Sydney, Australia’s largest city, afforded full police protection to allow them to show their support for Hamas incursions into Israel during a rally in Sydney on October 9, 2023. (DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)
“Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied,” supporters chanted as the crowd marched down through the very heart of the city.
“Free free Palestine,” others shouted back.
At the steps of the Opera House, candles were laid out to spell “Free Palestine” while flares were let off, News.com reports.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper then captured the moment Israel and Jews were abused in equal measure.
Moments after the blue and white colours of the Israeli flag lit up the Opera House sails, pro-Palestine members of the crowd started screaming “f–k Israel” and “f–k the Jews”. Israeli flags were also burned 👉 https://t.co/UCafNaEjfz pic.twitter.com/xJZKee6APB
— The Daily Telegraph (@dailytelegraph) October 9, 2023
Monday’s march was organized to coincide with the state government’s decision to illuminate the landmark in blue and white – the colours of the Israeli flag – in support of Jewish community groups in NSW.
Parliament House in Canberra is among a number of Australian landmarks being lit up in solidarity with Israel.