Queensland woman living in Israel speaks out as boyfriend fights Hamas

A Sunshine Coast woman, whose partner is fighting against Hamas terrorists, says she has been horrified by the hatred shown towards Israel, describing accusations of genocide as a cheap catchcry designed to inflame anti-Semitism.

A Queensland woman, who now lives in Israel, says she’s been horrified by the hatred shown towards Jewish people, particularly in western democracies like the UK, USA and Australia.

The 29-year-old university student has trained in the Israel Defence Forces while her boyfriend is serving in the IDF in the Gaza area, fighting Hamas terrorists.

Like many in Israel, the former Sunshine Coast resident has become used to seeking shelter from rockets being fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, even well before the October 7 massacre which saw more than 1200 Israelis killed.

Since then, the woman, who asked not to be named, says she has been disturbed by the labels being thrown around.

A pro Palestine rally in Melbourne CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“I want to say something about how many times I’ve seen the word ‘apartheid’ and ‘occupation’ in the news, especially in America/ Britain since this all escalated,” she said.

“I go to a Jewish university founded by Rabbis, and in my classes Arabs outnumber Jews 60-40. Sometimes more, and my closest circle of uni friends is made up of both.

One of the disturbing signs at a Pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne, Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Brendan Beckett

“I live on a street shared with a synagogue, but if I walk five minutes from my home I hear the call to prayer of the neighbouring mosque.

“My boyfriend grew up in a Jewish/ Arab integrated school in Jerusalem that taught Hebrew, right alongside Arabic, and he is fluent in both.

A soldier walks near a car destroyed in a strike by Lebanon's Hezbollah movement in Kibbutz Manara in northern Israel near the Lebanon border. (Photo by jalaa marey / AFP)

“In the army, the Bedouin Arab commanders taught us war chants in Arabic to sing when we were marching for berets.

“There are Arabs in our government, who make laws and decisions right alongside Jews.

A man points to bullet and shrapnel holes in a bomb shelter at a bus stop that was attacked by Hamas in Southern Israel. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

“Israel also is the only country that provides sanctuary visa/ citizenship for other persecuted minorities in the region including, Christian Arabs, Bedouin Arabs, Armenians, and LGBT people.”

‘HAMAS THROWING GAY PEOPLE FROM ROOFTOPS’

She points out that while Hamas had thrown LGBTI people from the rooftops in Israel they partied in her region during Pride Week with Israeli flags around their necks.

Palestinians walk amid debris of buildings hit in Israeli strikes, near Al-Zawiya market in Gaza City. (Photo by Omar El-Qattaa / AFP)

“Did you know 30 Israeli Arabs were killed alongside Jews in the terror massacre? Do you think they didn’t try to speak in Arabic, tell Hamas who they were? Thirty people … that’s not a mistake, or an accidental friendly fire situation.

“Does all this mean everything in Israel is perfect, that there are no imbalances? No. It still fights to balance all these things everyday. It’s a Jewish state. The only one. That’s always going to make things difficult and complicated for its Palestinian residents and invite criticism.

Ofir Tamir (26) and Amit Parapara best friends of Noa Argamani (26) and Avinatan Or (30) kidnappe d by Hamas terrorists. Five family members and representatives of Israelis who were kidnapped or murdered on October 7 meet with MPS and senators in front of Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“But before you cookie cut the country with words like apartheid or occupation- know that’s it cheap. A catchy way to get people angry before they know the reality.

“I find it odd that the Israeli Arabs I live alongside don’t use those words, but anti Israel reporting in America and Britain does, right alongside Hamas.

Five family members and representatives of Israelis who were kidnapped or murdered on October 7 meet with MPS and senators. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“In one of my classes we were discussing Israeli history openly, one visiting Palestinian student from America used the words apartheid and occupation to describe Israel. She was rebutted, not by the Jewish students … but by the Arabs.”

Mika Shani (18) Sister of Amit Shani (16) kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri by Hamas terrorists. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

COAST JEWS REMOVE STAR OF DAVID

A member of the Sunshine Coast Jewish Community, Robert, who asked that his surname not be used, said the consequences of the conflict were being felt around the world.

“The people of Israel whether they be Jewish, Arab or Druze are in the midst of a terrible war that they did not wish for and I don’t have to tell you what a difficult campaign this is for the IDF and for the families and friends of the soldiers, of the hostages and of those who were murdered on October 7,’’ he said.

Five family members and representatives of Israelis who were kidnapped or murdered on October 7 meet with MPs and senators in front of Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Several members of our community have received threatening, abusive and anonymous phone calls from people who seem to feel that Israel has no right or justification to defend itself from the barbarity of the Hamas terrorists.

“Several SCJC members have removed the Star of David that they proudly wore around their neck for fear of attack or abuse when out in the wider community.

“Many of us are struggling to deal with the amount and depth of antisemitism that we see and feel around us.”