Billboard truck showing kidnapped Israelis near Sydney’s Bondi Beach stopped by NSW Police

A mobile billboard truck depicting Israeli hostages was stopped by police and the driver was reportedly ordered to take out the sign in one of Sydney’s largest Jewish communities.

Photos of the exchange at Bondi Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Sunday were shared on Twitter by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), which has since written to NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley about the incident and demanded answers.

The truck was pulled over and two police officers then spoke to the driver, who turned off the digital sign.

“This is a scandal, just like when the government told Jews to stay home while a crowd at the Opera House in Sydney chanted “gas the Jews,” the AJA said.

“If Jews aren’t safe in Bondi, are they safe anywhere in Australia? The police should focus on dealing with the threats and not on silencing Jews.”

‘They were told it was a safety issue and they could put the signs up in the Vaucluse but not in Bondi.’

NSW Police said no further action will be taken.

“At around 1.30pm (on Sunday), officers from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were patrolling Bondi Beach when they stopped a Mitsubishi truck carrying video messages in O’Brien Street,” a spokesperson said.

‘Police spoke to the driver, a 30-year-old man. No further police action is expected.”

In the letter to Ms Catley, AJA chairman Dr David Adler wrote: ‘There appears to be no justification for police intervention.

‘Trucks like this have been driving around Sydney for a few weeks now… What law was broken?

“Frankly, this restrictive intervention was hurtful and insulting given the issues involved.”

Dr. Adler added that “it is very important for our community that peaceful, reasonable messages, such as the call for the return of hostages, can be made public.

‘And the police must protect our rights to this end and deal with any disruptions appropriately.’

On Sunday, police in Adelaide had to intervene to guard a small group calling for the release of Israeli hostages as they were besieged by a screaming crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters.

Video of the incident showed the group standing next to photos of kidnapped Israelis taped to the ground and carrying Israeli flags or small banners in support of the Jewish state.

They were surrounded by a larger group waving Palestinian flags and shouting “shame, shame” and “Free Palestine” as police kept the two groups apart.

Photos of the scene near Bondi Beach on Sunday were posted to Twitter by the Australian Jewish Association

“The ugly scenes we saw in Adelaide should shock all Australians,” an AJA spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia.

“A group of Australian Jews held a peaceful and respectful vigil for the 240 hostages kidnapped by Hamas, including babies, children and grandparents, and were surrounded by a shouting pro-Palestinian crowd that tried to intimidate them.

‘The Jewish community in Australia feels under siege. We call on governments and police across Australia to take stronger action to protect the Jewish community.

‘The Jewish community in Australia feels under siege.’

South Australian police said they made no arrests during the heated scenes.

“Members of the public have the right to lawfully assemble or protest to raise awareness of issues. The role of police at such events is to enforce the law and keep the peace,” a spokesperson said.

A small group organizing the vigil were shouted at from all sides by protesters in Adelaide on Sunday afternoon