Chaotic scenes have unfolded across New South Wales as tensions escalated between pro-Gaza and pro-Israel supporters.
On Monday night, the Sydney Opera House was lit in blue and white, symbolising support for Israel.
A short distance away, thousands of pro-Gaza supporters rallied in solidarity with Palestinians, in light of the Israeli government's formal declaration of war against Hamas and the Australian landmark being lit up.
Throughout the two-hour demonstration, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, the Israeli flag was burnt and trampled upon. Fireworks and flares were hurled towards a line of more than 100 police officers.
“Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied,” and “Israel, you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide,” rang out as the crowd moved from Sydney’s Town Hall to Circular Quay.
NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong tweeted about the event, criticising the decision to illuminate the Opera House sails.
“What about all the Palestinian lives lost since occupation?” she tweeted.
Activist and academic Fahad Ali urged the crowd to resist the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
“We’ve endured 75 years of dispossession, denied our basic human rights, under a continuously intensifying occupation by a colonial regime inflicting countless atrocities upon us.”
While most protesters maintained peace, some were heard shouting anti-Semitic slurs. A video captured the moment when a chant of “F*** The Jews” began. Sydney’s Jewish community was advised to avoid the city.
Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns have condemned the rally, following earlier pleas from the Prime Minister for it to be cancelled out of respect for the lives lost.
“I support the right to demonstrate... but what's the purpose if it doesn't foster peace?”
Albanese maintained his backing of the two-state solution and deemed Hamas’ attack as “not beneficial” for either Israelis or Palestinians.
“There’s no doubt Palestinians suffer, but Hamas' actions in this are wholly indefensible,” he said.
However, discontent towards Albanese was palpable among the protesters, with many urging the Prime Minister to sever ties with Israel.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke justified the arrest of a man seen waving an Israeli flag, stating it was "for his own safety".
Cooke said on Tuesday during a press conference more arrests could be made following the rally.
Footage from Lakemba also showed groups of pro-Gaza protesters chanting “occupation is the crime” and “Palestine will be free.”
Many displayed signs with the words "stop persecuting Muslims" and "stand for the oppressed".
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