Palestinian protesters who held a rally in Sydney following terrorist attacks against against Israel have been told to not bring their conflicts to Australia.
About 700 pro-Palestinian protesters attended in response to the Sydney Opera House sails being lit blue and white to show sympathy for those Israelis caught in the attacks.
Some of the protesters were seen chanting ‘gas the Jews’ and burning the Star of David as part of the rally.
In stark contrast, a handful of people with Israeli flags were arrested on sight in a move police said was for their own protection.
Videos shared to social media by attendees bragging about protest were met with hundreds of comments saying that type of political conflict has no place in Australia.
‘This is Australia where we have peace so respect us,’ one said.
‘We don’t want your hatred and generational rage here,’ added another.
‘I was there and scared, looked like a war zone,’ a third said.
‘Do you think you are going to change the minds of our govt by doing this! I hope they arrest trouble makers,’ said a fourth.
Another said: ‘Take your fight to Palestine this is Aboriginal Land.’
A fifth declared: ‘If you love Palestine then go there and fight and not disturb peace in other countries
There were scenes of chaos as a rally outside the Opera House was hijacked by radical Muslims – some wearing black masks – who hurled lit flares at police and chanted ‘f*** Israel’ and ‘f*** the Jews’
Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before resorting to stamping on it and tearing it into shreds (pictured)
Videos of the protest shared to social media were met with comments saying to leave such conflicts overseas
Many commenters said the scenes looked ‘like a war zone’ and have no place in Australia
A police task force has been set up to co-ordinate responses to the protest activity.
Police acting Commissioner David Hudson said the task force would capture all intelligence available about community sentiment, potential protest activity and possible demonstrations that might take place in the future.
‘The intent of the operation is to ensure community safety, that is always our primary purpose,’ he told reporters on Wednesday.
Organisers from the Palestine Action Group Sydney had planned a second protest for Sunday night.
But Mr Hudson said any protest would be unauthorised as the relevant paperwork had not been submitted to police within the required seven-day timeframe.
‘I would urge anyone considering attending Town Hall, if they have received notification of assembly, that the situation should be monitored closely and we will be doing further communication and negotiations with those organisers,’ he said.
‘(Protesters) do not have protections that come from the appropriate issue of (the paperwork) and they will be dealt with appropriately.’
If the rally went ahead, Mr Hudson said it would be met with a strong police presence.
One person asked what the motivation was to attend the protest
While another called for unity and not an escalation of tensions
The Palestine Action Group defended their right to protest in Australia, saying media coverage had focused on a tiny fringe of ‘vile anti-Semitic attendees’.
But Mr Hudson said NSW Police would reject further requests to support further protests by the group because of what happened on Monday.
‘The behaviour has been seen and quite clearly depicted through the media is unacceptable,’ he said.
‘We can no longer say that that group is responsible for conducting peaceful protests.’
More than 1000 people are dead after the Islamist group Hamas attacked Israeli towns from the Palestinian territories on Saturday.
Among them was Sydney grandmother Galit Carbone, who was executed at the Be’eri kibbutz, kilometres from the Gaza Strip.
Mr Minns apologised to the Jewish community for the way the Sydney protest was handled and said he took ‘full responsibility’ and promised it would not happen again.
‘The protest organisers have already proven that they’re not peaceful: shouting racial epithets at Jewish community members is not the definition of a peaceful protest,’ he said.
‘So the idea that they’re going to commandeer Sydney streets is not going to happen.’
The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney’s CBD before marching to the Opera House. A NSW Greens MP shared the details of the event beforehand
Police Minister Yasmin Catley dismissed opposition attacks about her lack of intervention in the protest, saying she had no role in operational policing decisions.
The Jewish Board of Deputies had expressed to her their concerns for safety and requested she stop the rally, she said.
‘The decisions are for the police commanders on the ground,’ she said.
Mr Minns said the protest was not consistent with Australia’s multi-faith, multicultural community values.
‘I thought it was abhorrent (for protesters) to occupy the Opera House and scream racial epithets at Jewish community members simply because they’re Jewish,’ he said.
A vigil for Israeli victims of the attacks will be held in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday evening.
Mr Hudson said police would increase their presence around synagogues, Jewish schools and hospitals to ensure people were kept safe.
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