3 People Charged After Protestors Climb Council Premises to Steal Israeli Flag

Three people have been charged after the alleged theft of an Israeli flag Courtesy of NSW Police

Three people have been charged and police are looking for one woman after an Israeli flag was allegedly stolen from a Sydney council on Christmas Day.

CCTV footage released by New South Wales (NSW) Police shows the moment a man piggybacked on a woman, and reached for the Israeli flag at Woollahra Council.

A car parked outside the council chambers was seen bearing one large Palestinian flag and several small flags before the individuals were seen running towards the flag poles.

Police are still searching for a woman of Asian or South American wearing a pink bikini top.

Woollahra Council in Sydney’s east is home to a significant Jewish population, with 14 percent of people identifying with Judaism.

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“About 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, two vehicles stopped outside a building on New South Head Road, Double Bay, before the occupants got out and a flag was torn from a flagpole,” Police said.

“Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.”

As part of their investigation, detectives visited a home in Stanmore, in Sydney’s inner-west, at 7.30 p.m. that day and spoke to a 27-year-old man who owned a Toyota Kluger.

The man has been issued with a court attendance notice for allegedly not disclosing his identity and unreasonably obstructing the path of a driver or pedestrians.

At 9 a.m. on Dec. 26, detectives visited a home in Dulwich Hill and spoke to a 37-year-old woman. She has been issued a court attendance notice for not disclosing her identity.

Each of these individuals will appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Feb. 5, 2024.

A 27-year-old woman was also arrested at Hyde Park on Jan. 6 following more inquiries.

A white Toyota is seen carrying Palestinian flags outside the Woollahra Council in Sydney's east Courtesy of NSW Police

The woman, from Croydon, appeared at Surry Hills Police Station where she was charged with alleged larceny. She has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear at the Waverley Court on Feb. 13, 2024.

Police Appeal for Help to Find the Woman in a Pink Top

NSW Police have released CCTV footage of a woman who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries following the incident.

The police are urging any witnesses or anyone with information to contact detectives at the Bondi Police Station or Crime Stoppers.

The woman is seen wearing a camouflage print bikini top, white shorts, dark shoes, and a pink head scarf.

“The woman depicted is described as being of Asian or South American appearance, aged in her 20s, of medium build, and long dark hair,” police said.

Police are continuing to search for a woman, believed to be in her 20s, following the incident. Courtesy of NSW Police

Sydney Councils Pulled in 2 Directions on Israel-Hamas War

The Israeli flag was raised at the Woollahra Council chambers following the attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Liberal Mayor of Woollahra Richard Shields elevated the flag as a sign of solidarity.

In a statement released on Oct. 10, Woollahra Council condemned the “abhorrent and unprecedented” attack on Israel and expressed support for the country’s right to defend itself.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been killed, injured and taken from their loved ones,” Mayor Shields said.

“With such a significant number of our local Woollahra community being of Jewish faith, with immediate and distant relatives in Israel, I am devastated to think of the impact this attack has had and will continue to have on them.”

On the flip side, the Canterbury-Bankstown Council recently voted to fly the Palestinian flag at the Campsie administration building and in a local community park in Bankstown.

Councillor Karl Saleh, representing the Australian Labor Party, moved a motion “supporting peace in Gaza and Palestine” on Oct. 24.

In the motion (pdf), Cr. Saleh moved, “That Council raise the Palestinian flag in support of the Palestinian people at both Bankstown’s Paul Keating park and Campsie Administration building until a cease-fire is declared in the current humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.”

The local council in Sydney’s southwest also voted to dedicate a space at a local park for the community to lay wreaths and flowers.

Meanwhile, Randwick Council in Sydney’s east has canned plans to fly the Palestinian flag at the top of the local town hall.

Councillor Daniel Rosenfeld from the Liberal Party moved a motion (pdf) so that local authorities “do not fly the Palestinian flag on 29 November 2023 as it was passed at the June meeting to do so.”

“I consider the business to be of great urgency given the current war in Israel and the escalating rallying within Australia by pro-Palestinian people,” Cr. Rosenfeld said at the time.

Sydney has been home to a large number of pro-Palestinian rallies and multiple pro-Israeli gatherings since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed “we are at war” after Hamas instigated an attack on Israel in early October.

Soon after Israel declared war on Hamas, images emerged of the Israeli flag being stomped on in front of the Opera House.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said at the time he was “horrified“ by the protest and it was ”the wrong thing to do.”