Woman hit in face by fireworks in Punchbowl during celebration of Hamas’ attack on Israel

A woman working in Punchbowl has been hospitalised after being hit in the face by fireworks ‘celebrating’ the Hamas attack on Israel, a witness has said. Watch the video.

A fireworks display which resulted in a woman being hit in the face and hospitalised was held in celebration of the Hamas attack on Israel, according to a witness.

The restaurant worker told The Daily Telegraph she was sitting inside the restaurant she works at, on The Boulevarde in Punchbowl, when a stray firework came into the building and struck her head.

Butt Karahi and Biryani restaurant staffer Rijju Maharjan said she had been on shift and not at the celebrations in the CBD, which then made their way to the Punchbowl street.

“For now I am (okay),” the 26-year-old said on Tuesday afternoon.

“I was just sitting inside the shop and the door was open and a bunch of guys were playing with the fireworks,” she said.

Rijju Maharjan was hit by a firework while working in Punchbowl on Monday night.

“There was a loud blast and one of the firecrackers came right into my forehead and I had a sudden shock and pain.

“I didn’t know what it was exactly then it started bleeding.”

The celebrations turned into chaos, as hundreds marched from Town Hall to the Opera House in a pro-Palestine rally on Monday night.

It followed the surprise attack of Palestinian militant group, Hamas on Israel on Saturday.

Fireworks and flares lit up the stairs of Sydney’s iconic Opera House on Monday night.

Moments after the blue and white colours of the Israeli flag lit up the Opera House sails, members of the crowd started screaming “f*ck Israel”, and “f*ck the Jews” from behind covered faces.

Hours later, Ms Maharjan, a Burwood resident, was struck by a firework about 10.15pm, which she described as “very very shocking”.

A screenshot from a video taken on Monday night of fireworks being let off in Punchbowl amid the Pro Palestine Protests in Sydney.

A screenshot from a video taken on Monday night of fireworks being let off in Punchbowl amid the Pro Palestine Protests in Sydney. Supplied.

“They were having so many blasts and the sound was scary too,” she said.

“It was unexpected. I was inside the shop and two people were in front of me.”

Emergency services arrived to find about 40 people who dispersed.

“The ambulance arrived and paramedics did a dressing and everything but I had to wait for 11 hours in emergency department and then they glued it,” she said.

Ms Maharjan said the fireworks “sounded like a bomb.”

“The guys with the flags. I heard they were protesting in the Sydney Opera House. There were a few of them and they were randomly throwing fireworks,” she said.

Palestine supporters rally outside the Sydney Opera House on October 09, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

“It could’ve hurt anybody. We had to close the doors for half an hour.

“It was so unfortunate. They were doing it so many times.”

Restaurant owner Faryan Azam said the worker was inside looking at the firework display when it “suddenly hit her.”

“The fireworks were going on and she was just standing here (at the entrance to the store) having a look,” he said.

“The door was open and a lot of people were here and I had people eating food here.

“One chunk (of the fireworks) came and it hit her and as soon as it hit her the blood came out.

“The fireworks came from every way.

“I was thinking people were celebrating here or a protest.”

Emergency services were called to street after reports of a number of loud bangs.

Ms Maharjan was treated by paramedics at that time before being taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Shortly after, police spotted a group of approximately 30-40 people who dispersed after officers attempted to confront them.

Screenshot from a video taken on Monday night of fireworks being let off in Punchbowl amid the Pro Palestine Protests in Sydney. Supplied.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Sydney’s CBD and in front of the Opera House in a rally against Israel. Picture: Jasmine Kazlauskas/news.com.au

A Punchbowl resident, Abdul John was among dozens running, driving and riding their bikes through the firework lit street.

“There was around 50 or 60 people here who came back from the city,” he said.

“We were over here celebrating with a little bit of fireworks and flags.

“It went on for about 5 minutes or so.”

Mr Abdul said local shop owners and families came to watch the firework display.

“Women brought their kids to watch it. We came out to watch it,” he said.

“The people they liked the show. This is our area. It’s not Vaucluse, we can do fireworks here.

“We’re not aggressive we’re just celebrating. It’s been 75 years.”

Fireworks casings and boxes remained sprawled across Arthur St and The Boulevard on Tuesday morning.

It comes after hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters converged on the Opera House’s forecourt after its sails were lit up blue and white in solidarity with Israel on Monday night.

The crowd were waving Palestinian flags while an Israeli flag was ripped up and stomped on.

On Sunday, people in their hundreds flocked to Lakemba Station just a day after at least 700 people were killed in Israel and another 2000 were reportedly injured.

A car in the neighbouring suburb of Greenacre was also spotted shooting fireworks while Palestinian flags flew from the windows.

Police have commenced an investigation, anyone who may have CCTV footage or mobile phone footage is urged to contact Campsie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.