Melbourne councillor faces ‘death threats’ over Gaza ceasefire vote

A local councillor says he has faced death threats after refusing to back a vote condemning the war in Gaza.

Melbourne councillor Oscar Yildiz says he has been threateend over a vote on Gaza.

A councillor in Melbourne’s inner north has revealed death threats made against himself and his family after he refused to support a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Merri-bek councillor Oscar Yildiz was one of four councillors who voted against the motion on Wednesday condemning Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip and alleged war crimes.

The two-time Mooreland City Council mayor said he had received “serious threats” as a result of the vote, which had hit him “for six” and left him barely being able to sleep.

“(They’re saying) stuff about my family (and) ‘I hope the plane you’re on crashes … the Qantas plane you’re on … I’ll put something on Instagram’,” Mr Yildiz told 3AW.

“They‘re saying: ‘Inshallah – so they’re saying God willing – you will die in a plane … wait until we do what the Israeli pigs are doing to our children. Wait until the next election’.”

Merri-bek councillor Oscar Yildiz. Picture: Supplied

Mr Yildiz told host Neil Mitchell the alleged threats came via text messages, emails, and social media posts, and that he would on Thursday be reporting them to police.

While he admitted the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East was “gut wrenching”, Mr Yildiz said the council was not voted in to campaign on international issues.

“It’s really horrific what’s going on, but how can a local council in Melbourne influence anything that is going on over there. If we could, I’d say yep – let’s vote on this,” he said.

“We don’t have the power, the federal government does. I think don’t they understand the role of local government. We’re viewed as radicals, as the laughing-stock of local government.

“Look at our record, time and time again were on top of the list for being one of the worst councils because we were focusing on issues that don’t concern local government.”

Protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have taken place across the country. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Mr Yildiz agreed with suggestions by host Neil Mitchell that he may have been viewed as a “traitor” because of his Muslim Turkish background, but said his decision was not unusual.

“What‘s even more disappointing is the fact that some of these hate messages are coming from people of Turkish background, and that’s probably the most insulting thing,” he said.

“Last year, there was a motion to write a letter to the Turkish prime minister. I voted against that because what’s that got to do with local government. We can’t enforce it.

“And all this motion does is it incites hatred, incite violence, and incites further waste. $15,000 is what last night’s debate cost this council. Do you really think the ratepayers are going ‘well done’.”

A number of people spoke in favour of the motion on Wednesday, including Jewish woman Jordana Silverstein who called the violence in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank “overwhelming”.

Jewish woman Jordana Silverstein who called the violence in Gaza “overwhelming”. Picture: Merri-bek Council

“What Israel is doing right now to Palestine is devastating … The question becomes, what can we do about it. What can we do over here in Merri-bek to be helpful or useful.

“All levels of government have stood against the oppression of Israelis. How do we ensure that we as people are also standing equally against the oppression of Palestinians.”

The war in Gaza and ongoing allegations of war crimes has become a flashpoint for local councils across the country, including in multicultural areas of Sydney's southwest.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council last month became the first to raise the Palestinian flag after NSW Premier Chris Minns agreed to project the Israeli flag on the Sydney Opera House.