The marking of a Jewish-owned small business with a symbol used by Hamas militants to identify targets to kill has prompted calls for police to use counter-terrorism laws to stamp out its use within Australia’s pro-Palestinian movement.
“This revelation of the targeting of a Jewish business with Hamas terrorist propaganda symbols is as brazen as it is sickening,” Dutton told this masthead.“Such conduct is designed to ostracise Jewish businesses and intimidate the Jewish communities. These actions are designed to inflict fear and instil division. This matter should be referred to police and investigated as a priority.
The symbol is outlawed in Germany because of its direct association with Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation that has controlled Gaza since 2007 and planned and ledon Israel, when 1200 people were murdered and more than 200 kidnapped. The attack provoked Israel’s ongoing, deadly reprisals in Gaza.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the symbol had become a de facto Hamas flag. “Vandalising Jewish-owned businesses is unacceptable and antisemitic behaviour which I completely condemn,” he said. “I encourage people to be critical of Israel’s continued bombing of civilians without attacking Jewish people, many of whom are protesting Israel’s actions.”Palestinian community leader Nasser Mashni deplored the targeting of a Jewish-owned business but declined to comment on the use of the symbol more broadly.
Cohen contacted the Brunswick police station about the threatening symbol, but police did not respond. Merri-bek Council promised to conduct an investigation but closed the case a week later without taking action.