Residents in shock as Bondi, Bronte areas targeted in spate of pro-Hamas graffiti

Locals have lamented the spread of “division” as authorities scramble to respond to a fresh wave of pro-Hamas graffiti, with 11 more incidents reported overnight.

Some of the graffiti scrawled in the last week.

Locals have lamented the spread of “hate speech” and “division” as authorities scramble to respond to a spike in pro-Hamas graffiti in Sydney’s east, where 11 more incidents were reported overnight.

A phone box opposite a kosher supermarket in Bondi’s main shopping strip is among the latest locations to be vandalised with pro-Hamas messages scrawled with red, black and white spray paint.

The spate of graffiti began last week and continued with another spate reported by residents on Monday night.

Photos show the incidents have occurred on the sides of bus stops, council rubbish bins, train stations, street signs, utility infrastructure and on a phone box opposite Krinsky’s Supermarket on Bondi Rd with the owner believing the vandalism was “probably deliberate”.

Graffiti has also been sprawled outside Bronte Beach Public School and along a section of the popular Bondi to Bronte walk.

Pro-Hamas graffiti sprayed in Bondi and the eastern suburbs.

Graffiti on a phone box across the road from a kosher supermarket in Bondi.

Residents have speculated the graffiti may be the work of multiple people, due to the differing styles of graffiti used.

One resident, who asked not to be named due to safety concerns, believed the graffiti was also deliberately “left to drip like blood” to make the messages appear “more menacing”.

The spate of graffiti has sparked concerns from members of the large Jewish community in the eastern suburbs.

The spate of graffiti has left local residents shocked.

The graffiti has caused significant concern for residents.

David Ossip, from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, believes the vandalism is a “deliberate attempt to intimidate the Jewish community”.

“It’s absolutely despicable,” he said.

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation guilty of the most heinous crimes and there are people here in Australia not only celebrating their atrocities but deliberately glorifying them. We are absolutely being targeted,” he said.

“The individuals responsible must be identified and prosecuted.”

The graffiti has been scrawled across the eastern suburbs.

Locations targeted include public bins.

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said the council was taking immediate action to have the graffiti removed.

“The level of the graffiti has increased over the last week and we’re acting on it as soon as we’re told because it’s hugely upsetting for our community,” she said.

“Hamas is a registered terrorist organisation and we don’t cop this sort of vandalism.”

The graffiti incidents come amid rising reports of anti-Semitism in the eastern suburbs, with other recent incidents including the theft of an Israeli flag from the Woollahra Council building late last year.

Charlie Mcilroy, 25, who has lived in the eastern suburbs his whole life, said he “wasn’t surprised” to see areas like Bondi Rd targeted.

The graffiti has been scrawled across the eastern suburbs.

Bus stops have also been targeted.

“It’s a shame that Sydneysiders are so divided in a time when we should be sticking together,” he said.

“I wish others would be a little more accepting of each other’s religious beliefs.

“I understand there is conflict but we shouldn’t have to bring it to our door steps.

“Instead there is hate speech that is spreading, and it’s a shame we have no idea who spray-painted those stores because they’ll likely still stay anonymous.”

The eastern suburbs has one of the largest Jewish populations in Sydney, with the latest Census data showing the combined Waverley and Woollahra Councils area have 18,518 Jewish residents – 15 per cent of the total population, a rate more than 30 times the state average.

NSW Police is understood to be aware of the incidents, with the force urging anyone with information about the graffiti to contact Waverley Police Station.