A war memorial in Melbourne was desecrated by anti-Israel graffiti on Remembrance Day, as tens of thousands have attended pro-Palestinian protests across the country.
The Montrose Memorial in Melbourne’s far east was defaced on Friday evening with slogans such as ‘Stop the genocide in Gaza’, ‘Shame Israel, USA, UK, Australia’ and ‘Free Palestine’.
“Ceasefire” was scrawled in large red letters on the monument’s obelisk.
It happened just hours after violent clashes between about 400 pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel supporters in the Jewish suburb of Caulfield in the city’s southeast, following a fire at a civilian restaurant owned by an outspoken, pro-Palestinian lawyer.
The Montrose Memorial in Melbourne’s far east was defaced on Friday evening with slogans such as ‘Stop the genocide in Gaza’, ‘Shame Israel, USA, UK, Australia’ and ‘Free Palestine’ (photo)
‘Ceasefire’ was scrawled in large red letters on the monument’s obelisk (photo)
Police are investigating the incident, which they believe occurred sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning
Defense Minister Richard Marles said the destruction of the monument, which was originally “erected by the people of Montrose in tribute to their brave sons who took part in the Great War of 1914-1919”, was “completely unacceptable”.
“We live in a country where freedom of expression exists… but people must take responsibility for the way that happens,” Mr Marles said. Sky News.
“Defacing a war memorial does not contribute anything to the cause of what is happening in Gaza. It contributes nothing to the progress of the humanitarian situation facing the people of Gaza.”
On October 7, war broke out in the region after Hamas launched a terror attack, killing 1,200 civilians and taking about 240 people hostage.
According to Palestinian officials, Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes have killed more than 11,000 Palestinians so far.
A team from the council arrived with high-pressure hoses and brushes to clean the Montrose monument before Saturday’s memorial service.
Victoria Police are investigating the incident.
Protest group Free Palestine Melbourne apologized on Saturday after organizing a protest outside the burnt down Burgertory branch in Caulfiled, leading to the evacuation of a local synagogue.
“The organizers were unaware that there was a synagogue across the street from the park, the Central Shule Chabad on Maple St, South Caulfield,” the group said in a statement on Facebook.
“We apologize to the local Jewish community for the protest site that led to the evacuation of the synagogue, for any fear they may have felt and for the cancellation of Shabbat.
“We should not have gathered at this location. It was never our intention to disrupt or intimidate Jewish believers.”
The tense scenes saw some protesters pepper-sprayed and led away in handcuffs, while an estimated 200 people clashed on each side as a heavy police presence tried to keep them apart.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton called the incident ‘absolutely disgusting’.
‘It was a deliberate incitement, intended to lead to violence. And, predictably, it did,” Dutton said.
“These scenes have no place in our country and must be fully and utterly condemned.
Pro-Palestinian protests were held across the country on Sunday, including in Brisbane (pictured)
A protester in Brisbane holds a sign comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler
A group of men perform a Haka during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in King George Square in Brisbane, Australia
Burgertory’s Caulfield branch in Melbourne’s south-east burned down around 4am on Friday (pictured)
“The Jewish community in Australia rightly fears for their safety at this time, and we all have a responsibility to denounce vile anti-Semitism when it rears its ugly head – as happened in Caulfield last night.”
Burgetory’s CEO Hash Tayeh, 32, had asked people not to protest after his restaurant was destroyed in the alleged arson.
Tayeh addressed more than 50,000 pro-Palestinian protesters in Melbourne’s city center on Sunday.
“When I called for peace and a ceasefire in recent weeks… my company became a target,” he said.
‘Our store was reduced to ashes due to a cruel arson. To those who tried to silence us, I say you will not succeed. Love and unity will always prevail.”
A similar demonstration took place in Sydney’s Hyde Park, where thousands gathered in support of Palestine.
Earlier in the day, A A crowd of about 5,000 people gathered in Moore Park in Sydney’s east to free the Jewish hostages kidnapped on October 7.
In Melbourne, more than 50,000 pro-Palestinian protesters brought the city center to a standstill in one of the largest demonstrations since the conflict erupted in Gaza following Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel.
A crowd of about 5,000 people gathered in Moore Park in Sydney’s east to free the Jewish hostages kidnapped on October 7.
Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry addressed the “Release Them” rally, calling for the destruction of Hamas and the “swift and complete victory of the heroic forces of the IDF.”
‘Hope for the safe rescue of every hostage. “Hope for the complete destruction of Hamas and hope for an era of peace for the land of Israel,” he said.
Protesters also gathered in numbers at King George Square in Brisbane and were expected to gather outside Parliament House in Perth and Russell Square in Adelaide on Sunday.
