The Australian Jewish community has condemned at least two outpourings of support for Hamas attacks on Israel in south-west Sydney.
Video footage of green and red fireworks being launched from the back of a moving silver ute was captured in Greenacre on Sunday evening. The shell fireworks appeared to be shot from a mortar tube while Palestinian flags were waved from the car as it crossed through red lights. Shouts of support and car horns can be heard in the background.
Nearby, hundreds gathered at a rally in Lakemba.
Australia calls for ‘restraint’ to protect of civilian lives in Gaza conflictRead more
Robert Gregory, the chief executive officer of the Australian Jewish Association, which published the Greenacre footage, said “it is distressing that there are monsters living amongst us and we expect the Muslim community to condemn the actions”.
“In this situation you can either be on the side of evil or on the side of good and we urge the authorities to look at whether there are any charges to be laid and for those people to be deported. They are clearly not fit to be in Australia.”
He said the demonstrations were “horrific”, given unfolding events in Israel.
“It’s sad when women and children are being murdered and raped and beheaded, to have support for this in Sydney is just horrific … These barbaric acts belong in the middle ages, not in the 21st century,” he said.
Commenting on the demonstrations, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said “the targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages is never a cause for celebrations” and Australia would “never condone” such tactics “whatever people’s views of the history of this conflict”.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, told Channel Nine’s Today program there was “nothing to celebrate by the murder of innocent civilians going about their day”.
“Some of those who’ve been captured were young people who were attending a rave, enjoying life, enjoying each other’s company.”
The New South Wales opposition leader, Mark Speakman, condemned the rally in Lakemba, saying the Jewish community should feel safe and secure.
“It was disappointing to see overnight people celebrating brutality … [there is] never an excuse for attacking civilians, let alone for celebrating that attack.”
Maha Abdo, the chief executive of Muslim Women Australia, said she urged the local Muslim community to focus on peace while acknowledging their pain.
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“There is a lot of trauma, anxiety and fear. Loss of life on all sides is just not right. It hurts, and the pain of course increases over the years of oppression.
“We need to recognise that pain, but two wrongs don’t make a right. There is no win-win here. Let’s bring on an avalanche of peace. Let’s wage peace, not war.”
In a statement, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) said it “supports the Palestinian people’s right for self determination and…
2023-10-08 23:15:01
Original from www.theguardian.com
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