Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators descended on the Sydney Opera House on Monday in protest at the decision to project the colors of the Israeli flag on the iconic building’s sails.
Footage shows large crowds of demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and lighting flares outside the Opera House, which was guarded by dozens of police officers.
The decision to light the building in a show of solidarity with the Israeli regime was announced by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns on Sunday, amid tensions following Palestinians’ Operation al-Aqsa Strom against Israel.
“It’s extremely hypocritical and we need to stop supporting an apartheid regime, that has many, many war crimes to its record and actually call it out, stand up to it, and support the people who are the real victims,” a demonstrator said.
“I think the government should be ashamed. The only people they need to be backing here are Palestinians, because we’ve gone through hell, we’ve been occupied, colonized, stolen from, everything,” added a second pro-Palestinian protester.
The demonstration outside the Sydney Opera House came after Hamas launched its surprise operation against Israel on Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as its members broke into the occupied territories.
Israel responded with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and issued a formal declaration of war on Hamas, warning residents in Gaza to leave their homes.
Hamas said the operation was due to the long-running Israeli blockade of the besieged Gaza Strip, its raids on West Bank cities, and other attacks.
(Source: Ruptly)
