A young woman has been arrested as part of a police investigation into the display of Hezbollah flags at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney’s CBD last weekend.
As many as 30,000 protesters marched in Sydney, while thousands more took to the streets in Melbourne to show support for Palestine and Lebanon on Sunday.
Several individuals were seen waving the red and green flags of Hezbollah, a militant and political group from Lebanon that is listed as a terrorist organization in Australia, as well as photos of slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.
NSW Police on Wednesday released a photo of a 19-year-old who they say could help them in their investigation into the display of ‘prohibited symbols’.
The call came as a young Australian Jew spoke out about the abuse he suffered after becoming involved in Sunday’s protests – and the vile insults hurled at him.
A photo of the woman wanted by police showed the 19-year-old with a high ponytail and a black top and black square-framed sunglasses on her head.
Police described her as of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, medium build, with long brown hair.
The woman reported herself to the Kogarah police station after the public appeal before being arrested. She assists the police in their investigation.
Photos of the glamorous woman wearing a high ponytail wearing a black top and black square frame sunglasses on her head have been released by NSW Police as part of their investigation into the public order incident in Sydney on Sunday
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in both Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday to show support for Palestine and Lebanon, with a larger-than-normal turnout following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in the country’s south. Beirut last Friday
Liberal Senator James Patterson said the sight of Hezbollah flags at the rallies in Melbourne and Sydney was “disturbing” as Australia has labeled it a terrorist organization.
“This is a clear breach of 80.2HA of the Commonwealth Criminal Code. It’s time for police to enforce the law,” he tweeted.
Displaying flags representing a designated terrorist organization is a prohibited offense and has been widely condemned by politicians, police and Jewish organizations.
Sydney resident Adam Lippmann, a 38-year-old Australian Jew of Iraqi descent, has spoken of his fear after claiming he was “exposed and targeted” while watching the weekend’s rally.
Mr Lippmann told The Australian he was abused as a “Zionist bastard” and had his phone thrown onto the light rail during the Sydney protest.
He said he was buying bananas at Woolworths Town Hall on Sunday afternoon when he saw protesters carrying Hezbollah flags and portraits of Nasrallah.
Mr. Lippmann said he was taking photos of the protest as demonstrators walked up Pitt St. when a man carrying a Nasrallah portrait among a small group of male protesters of about 15 to 20 people spotted him.
“He came up to me and just said, ‘We all know who you are. You’re a damn Zionist. You’re a damn Zionist, get out of here.
‘He saw me from a distance and chose to fight against anti-Semitic, homophobic abuse.’
Mr Lippmann said another young man then took his phone and threw it onto the tram tracks.
Small groups of young men, many masked, were seen at the rallies in each city waving the red and green flags of Hezbollah, a militant and political group originating in Lebanon that is listed as a terrorist organization in Australia.
He claims that when he approached the police who attended the rally and told them he had photos and audio of what happened, he was told they couldn’t help because they were only there “to make sure it was a peaceful protest was’.
Mr. Lippmann later reported the incident to police at a nearby station.
“The city is not a safe place for Jews,” he told the publication. ‘Police policy is not enough to protect Jews.’
Protests in support of the Palestinians have now been held on the streets of Australian cities for almost 50 weeks since Israel’s brutal retaliation after Hamas terrorists attacked its people on October 7 and took Israel hostage.
Yesterday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb filed an application in the NSW Supreme Court to stop a planned pro-Palestinian protest on Monday, October 7, over fears it would cause civil unrest.
In a statement, NSW Police said it “recognizes and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly” but that “the safety of participants and the wider community” was its top priority .
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also spoke out on Monday about the planned protest for the holiday.
‘There should certainly be no protests on October 7, because I think that would be seen as incredibly provocative. It wouldn’t advance any cause. It would cause a lot of misery,” he said.
Palestine Action Group organizer Damian Ridgwell told the Sydney Morning Herald the police request was an “attack on basic democratic rights”.
“We intend to defend our right to protest and are committed to continuing to stand up for justice for Palestine and Lebanon,” Ridgwell said.
The display of Hezbollah flags in Sydney and Melbourne has been referred to the Australian Federal Police for possible criminal sanctions.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw described the displays as ‘un-Australian’ and an offense under federal law.
“If they fly these flags, especially the flags of Hezbollah and Hamas, action will be taken,” Commissioner Kershaw said.
Anyone who can identify the woman wanted by NSW Police for questioning, or provide information that could help, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.