A massive anti-Israel rally on the steps of the Sydney Opera House has sparked political criticism and an investigation by Australian police after protesters were filmed chanting, “Gas the Jews.”
About 1,000 protesters gathered outside Sydney’s iconic performing arts hall late Monday carrying flares and Palestinian flags and chanting “Gas the Jews,” “F–k the Jews” and “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic for “God is Great ”), which is troubling. footage shared by the Australian Jewish Association shows.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the chants “reprehensible” and “just horrible,” ABC News reported.
“I think we should all be concerned,” added Foreign Minister Penny Wong on ABC Radio National, according to the Guardian.
“There is no place in Australia for antisemitism or prejudice or hatred of any kind and we should all stand firm against the kind of antisemitic language that some unfortunately engage in. [in] — just as we must stand firm against all prejudice.”
The rally drew about 1,000 people to protest Israel on Monday night. via REUTERS
The protests came about three days after the war between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist group that launched a surprise attack on the Jewish state early Saturday.
As of Tuesday, some 1,000 Israelis have been killed and another 2,800 injured – including entire families, elderly people, and revelers at a music festival in the Negev.
Protest organizer Palestine Action Group Sydney defended it as “peaceful”, distancing itself from the “small section” of antisemitic attendees responsible for the chant.
Disturbing footage of protesters chanting “Gas the Jews” quickly went viral. via REUTERS
“From our observations [the chanting] takes place in less than a minute and is not a continuous chant,” the group wrote.
“They were quickly condemned for their singing and asked to leave. Long-time Palestinian organizers and activists, Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims who attended the protest were disgusted and upset by the action,” they continued.
Police watched as the protest progressed; an official later said the lack of intervention was “operational.” via REUTERS
“This is not what our movement is about.
Although the group rejected the footage, it quickly went viral and attracted a police investigation amid criticism that the rally was allowed to continue.
“This is not about us allowing, supporting, facilitating any process… This is about us providing public safety,” Assistant Police Commissioner Tony Cooke told ABC News about the decision to allow the event to go ahead.
Palestinians evacuate following Israeli airstrikes on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City Monday.AFP via Getty Images A paramedic holds a little girl with a face covered in blood and dirt from the effects of a bombardment by Israeli planes.ZUMAPRESS.com
NSW Police have launched an investigation into the incident, and Minns warned that those found to have taken part in “racial vilification or incitement to hatred or incitement to violence” will be prosecuted, the Guardian said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
