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People take part in a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney, Australia, on October 9 2023. Picture: AAP IMAGE/DEAN LEWINS via REUTERS
Sydney — Australian police said on Tuesday they are investigating a pro-Palestinian protest outside Sydney Opera House, after footage emerged of a small group appearing to chant anti-Semitic slogans at the demonstration.
About 1,000 pro-Palestinian supporters marched through central Sydney on Monday evening to the city’s iconic Opera House, which the government had illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag after Saturday’s attacks by Hamas which Israel says killed over 900.
Gaza’s health ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli retaliation air strikes on the blockaded enclave since then.
Unverified footage shared by the Australian Jewish Association and featured on Sky News appeared to show a small group outside the Opera House lighting flares and chanting “gas the Jews”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday called the reports of anti-Semitic slogans “horrific”.
“We are a tolerant multicultural nation,” he said. “I understand that people have deep views about issues relating to the Middle East conflict but here in Australia we have to deal with political discourse in a respectful way.”
New South Wales state police told a news conference on Tuesday it was reviewing footage from the protest to determine if offences were committed.
Protest organiser Palestine Action Group Sydney defended its right to protest “apartheid” in Israel, but said a small number of “vile anti-Semitic attendees” had no place in the movement.
“We are an anti-racist and anti-colonial movement and we refuse to fight racism with racism,” the group said in a post on social media. If you are an anti-Semite, you are not welcome at our rallies and are not a part of our movement. As we did today, we will ask you to leave and we will continue to do this.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Police probe pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney
Sydney — Australian police said on Tuesday they are investigating a pro-Palestinian protest outside Sydney Opera House, after footage emerged of a small group appearing to chant anti-Semitic slogans at the demonstration.
About 1,000 pro-Palestinian supporters marched through central Sydney on Monday evening to the city’s iconic Opera House, which the government had illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag after Saturday’s attacks by Hamas which Israel says killed over 900.
Gaza’s health ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli retaliation air strikes on the blockaded enclave since then.
Unverified footage shared by the Australian Jewish Association and featured on Sky News appeared to show a small group outside the Opera House lighting flares and chanting “gas the Jews”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday called the reports of anti-Semitic slogans “horrific”.
“We are a tolerant multicultural nation,” he said. “I understand that people have deep views about issues relating to the Middle East conflict but here in Australia we have to deal with political discourse in a respectful way.”
New South Wales state police told a news conference on Tuesday it was reviewing footage from the protest to determine if offences were committed.
Protest organiser Palestine Action Group Sydney defended its right to protest “apartheid” in Israel, but said a small number of “vile anti-Semitic attendees” had no place in the movement.
“We are an anti-racist and anti-colonial movement and we refuse to fight racism with racism,” the group said in a post on social media. If you are an anti-Semite, you are not welcome at our rallies and are not a part of our movement. As we did today, we will ask you to leave and we will continue to do this.”
Reuters
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