Man Carrying Israeli Flag Arrested and Released After Pro-Palestine Rally

NSW Premier Chris Minns says he understands why Jewish community members were upset about being told to stay away from the Opera House.

Palestine supporters rally outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2023. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

A businessman carrying an Israel flag was arrested and then released by police during a protest in Sydney.

A pro-Palestine rally with hundreds of people was taking place at Sydney’s Town Hall at the time.

The rally, which eventually moved to the Sydney Opera House, was widely condemned by Liberal and Labor politicians following the release of footage showing chanting of the words, “Gas the Jews,” and “[Expletive] the Jews.”

The Israel flagbearer was met by New South Wales (NSW) Police who said, “You’ve been arrested in relation to breach of the peace,” according to video circulating on social media.

The Jewish community had been told by NSW Police not to turn up at the rally over safety concerns.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has described the pro-Palestine protest as the “wrong thing to do” given the mass murder and kidnapping that has occurred in Israel.

Upwards of 1,500 people including innocent Israeli civilians have been killed since Iran-based terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared “We are at war” on the weekend.

NSW Police Responds

An NSW Police spokesperson confirmed with The Epoch Times that the man was arrested to “prevent a breach of the peace.”

“About 5.30 p.m. [Monday, Oct. 9, 2023], officers from the Central Metropolitan Region were facilitating a high-visibility operation at a public assembly at Town Hall, to ensure a peaceful demonstration,” the spokesperson said.

“Officers observed a man within the large group and saw additional members of the group begin to approach him. He was arrested and removed from the area by police to prevent a breach of the peace.

“The man was issued a move-on direction, and he was released. No further police action will be taken.”

Man Says He Felt Like a ‘Ragdoll’

The Sydney man arrested identified himself as Mark Spiro in an interview with Sky News on Monday night.

Mr. Spiro claimed he only attended the pro-Palestinian protest for “three seconds” to show solidarity for Israel.

He walked from Town Hall station across the road carrying the flag and after three seconds said he had “multiple police officers trying to grab the flag” off him.

“It was excessive and at the time having both your arms pinned back for effectively having a rolled-up Israeli flag was shocking and confronting,” he said.

“Then being dragged by that I felt like a ragdoll.”

Widely Condemned

Sydney’s Opera House was lit up in blue and white on Monday night in a sign of solidarity for Israel.

However, hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters turned up at the iconic landmark and were seen chanting, burning, and jumping on the Israeli flag.

Mr. Minns, the NSW premier, said he could understand why Jewish community members were upset about being told to stay away from the landmark.

“We lit up the Opera House specifically to show solidarity with the Jewish community, and it’s a great shame that they weren’t able to commemorate solemnly with their community last night,” he said on ABC.

Liberal Senator James Paterson described the scenes at the Opera House as “shocking.”

“We have a serious problem if Australians think this is an appropriate way to behave. The organisers of last nights rally must unequivocally condemn this behaviour,” Mr. Paterson wrote on X (formerly Twitter).