Rallies Supporting Hamas in South-West Sydney Condemned by Australia’s Jewish Community

Rallies Supporting Hamas in South-West Sydney Condemned by Australia’s Jewish Community

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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