EXCLUSIVE
Transport officials tracked down and spoke to the driver, who played a pro-Palestine song on the loudspeaker of a crowded train.
Commuters were stunned to hear messages of support for the pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney on their way to the Hyde Park event on Saturday.
The Sydney rally was one of several held across the country condemning Israel’s retaliation to Hamas terror attacks.
‘We love you all. Here’s a song for you, you hear the engineer say over the train’s PA system.
The train driver then played Dammi Falastini, a song by Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf, about his affection for Palestine.
2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley and several Sky News presenters expressed their outrage at the ‘bizarre’ act, which was revealed by Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.
It is understood the train worker has been spoken to by authorities and is unlikely to be dismissed despite increasing calls to terminate his employment.
A group of women heading to a pro-Palestine demonstration in Sydney on Saturday got a big surprise on the train
It comes after a tube driver who performed the ‘free, free Palestine’ chant on a London subway this weekend was suspended by transport authorities.
Hadley told listeners on Wednesday he had asked NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen for answers as he condemned the worker’s actions.
“She (the minister) has come back to me to say it is being investigated,” Hadley said.
He added that Dammi Falastini, considered an ode to Palestine, was removed from Spotify and Apple Music earlier this year due to outcry.
“But here we’re playing it on a train.”
“It is not the role of an engineer to do anything other than drive a train and worry about the safety of the passengers,” Hadley continued.
“I would be a little concerned about someone so radicalized operating a train on the Sydney network. It’s a bit bizarre.’
Transport for NSW launched an investigation after Daily Mail Australia was made aware of the online videos.
“Sydney Trains identified the staff member and they subsequently spoke to management about their responsibility to use the public address system only for customer service and safety announcements,” a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
The saga dominated the headlines on Sky News on Tuesday evening.
“This is coming over the train car speakers, turned on by a Sydney Trains official,” Peta Credlin said.
‘Please, images like that go around the world.’
2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley was one of several commentators to criticize the train driver’s actions this weekend
Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes agreed.
‘This isn’t Sydney. This is not the great city I love. “If this is a Sydney Trains official, the man’s feet should not be touching the ground at the speed at which he shot,” she said.
“You may have an opinion about the Palestinians, but it is incomprehensible and disgusting how anyone in recent weeks has celebrated what Hamas has done and their atrocities.”
Sky News presenter Caleb Bond called for heads to roll over the incident as he shot the train driver.
‘You can not do that. I don’t care what political statement you make. You’re on the train for heaven’s sake. You should not use public infrastructure to advocate for any political cause.”
‘If you are Jewish on that train, you cannot get off on the track. You have to wait until the next station. You would feel so unsafe and uncomfortable in your own country.’
Several commuters posted images of the incident on social media.
“When the train driver Dammi Falastini starts playing on the train entering the city for the protest in Sydney,” one video read.
Another video showed a group of women rocking in their seats to the music, giving them a thumbs up and clapping.
“The engineer made our day,” they said.
Leaders of Australia’s Jewish community condemned the train worker, including Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich, whose police inspector cousin was recently killed in a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv.
“This hijacking and arming of a public train to promote Palestinian propaganda is shameful and absolutely unacceptable,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
There was a big smile when Dammi Falastini, a hit by Palestinian pop star Mohammed Assaf, started blaring through the carriage
“Imagine the pain and fear that a Jewish person or an Israeli-Australian, who may have lost family to the atrocities of Hamas, would have felt upon hearing this music.
“It is no wonder that the Jewish community feels tense and under siege, given the open expressions of hatred spreading like wildfire across the country.
“Sydney Trains and the NSW Government must take disciplinary action against this driver and reassure all passengers that it is safe to use their trains.”
The Australian Jewish Association also expressed disappointment.
“If a train worker in Sydney is confirmed to be engaging in political advocacy for the taxpayer’s dollar, they should be fired,” said Robert Gregory, CEO of the Australian Jewish Association.
‘After the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust, some have turned to celebrating and calling for more violence.
“Every major pro-Palestinian demonstration in Sydney, including last weekend, has involved incitement to violence and anti-Semitism.
“Public transport in Sydney is for everyone, not for political activism, and we call on the NSW Government to take immediate action.”
A spokesperson for Sydney Trains said in a statement on Tuesday: “Sydney Trains is aware of the circulating videos on social media and we are investigating this matter.”
Meanwhile, in London, a tube rider who recently sang the chant “free, free Palestine” on a London subway was suspended by authorities.
Several commuters shared footage after a Sydney train driver played a Palestinian song over the loudspeaker
Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters marched through the streets of Sydney on Saturday
The incident happened on Saturday when about 100,000 protesters took part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
The footage posted showed the chant being piped over the train’s speaker system by the subway driver.
The Central Line service driver said “free, free”, to which passengers responded with “Palestine” – a popular chant at protests – leading to pressure to fire the driver.
“A driver has now been identified and suspended while we continue to fully investigate the incident in accordance with our policies and procedures,” said Glynn Barton, Chief Operating Officer of Transport for London.