An Australian Jewish group 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.
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.
“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 opposes the unjust and unlawful occupation of [Palestine]”.
“ANIC calls on the international community and the Australian government to demand a cessation of the Israeli offensive on Gaza and end the siege on Gaza.”
NSW police confirmed the Greenacre incident was not reported at the time and that Bankstown police area command had launched an investigation to identify the vehicle and its occupants. Anyone with information was urged to contact Bankstown police or Crime Stoppers.
In Lakemba, Campsie police area command and specialist police resources attended the demonstration at The Boulevarde Reserve at about 7.30pm on Sunday and monitored unauthorised protest activity.
“Attendees complied with all police directions and no significant issues arose, with no arrests made,” police said in a statement.
• The headline and text of this article were amended on 10 October 2023 to make clear that the comments condemning the rally came from one group rather than the Jewish community generally.
