New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has expressed “horror” at a pro-Palestine rally that took place outside the Sydney Opera House last night.
The iconic Australian landmark was strikingly lit up blue and white on Monday night to show solidarity for Israel.
But hundreds of people showed up at the Opera House in support of Hamas and were seen on camera chanting, burning, and stomping on the Israel flag.
Mr. Minns said the protest was the “wrong thing to do” given the mass murder and kidnapping that has taken place in Israel.
At least 1,500 people, including innocent Israeli civilians, have been killed since the Iran-based terrorist group Hamas instigated an attack on Israel from Gaza on Saturday.
This led to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaiming “we are at war.”
Hamas was listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia in March 2022.
A Show of Solidarity
Mr. Minns is among a wide range of politicians who have condemned the protest in the media on Tuesday morning.“There was mass murder, and there was kidnapping on a massive scale, and I think the vast majority of people in NSW and Australia have solidarity and sympathy with what’s happened in Israel and are concerned about people who have been taken hostage and are being held in Gaza.”
The Jewish community had been told to stay away from the Opera House while the rally was taking place.
Mr. Minns said he can understand why Jewish community members would be be upset, adding that the city “cannot have a situation where members of the Jewish community can’t participate.”
“We lit up the Opera House specifically to show solidarity with the Jewish community, and it’s a great shame that they weren’t able to commemorate solemnly with their community last night,” he said.
Bipartisan Condemnation
Liberal Senator James Paterson, who shared a link to the images, said it “shocking to see these scenes in an Australian city.”“We have a serious problem if Australians think this is an appropriate way to behave. The organisers of last nights rally must unequivocally condemn this behaviour,” Mr. Paterson wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Federal Member for Mitchell Alex Hawke also shared footage of protestors at the Opera House on X and blamed it on a “total failure of political leadership from the NSW Government.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was also asked for his reaction to the “celebration” at the Opera House.
Mr. Albanese said “there is nothing to celebrate from the loss of innocent lives.”
“But I think that the events on the weekend deserve unequivocal condemnation.”
‘Disgusting,’ Says Ontario Premier
Similar rallies were also held in Canada. On Oct. 9, a large crowd of pro-Palestine protestors gathered in downtown Toronto and marched on the streets without a permit, blocking traffic.Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the celebrations “disgusting.”