Police fine men who tear down Israeli hostages memorial in Bondi

Police fine two men caught on video tearing down parts of a memorial at Bondi Beach for the more than 200 hostages kidnapped by Hamas.

A video shared on social media appears to show two men who allegedly ripped down posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages at Bondi Beach on Thursday.

Police have fined two men caught on video tearing down parts of a memorial set up at Sydney’s Bondi Beach for the more than 200 hostages kidnapped by Hamas last month.

The memorial featured missing posters – emblazoned with a red “kidnapped” across the top of the page – stuck up on the railings facing out to the beach, interspersed with blue and white towels – the colours of the Israeli flag – and thongs on the pavement below.

A video shared with The Australian that is also on social media shows two men each with a handful of the missing posters, involved in an altercation with passers-by.

“The hostages aren’t here, mate, they’re not here,” one of the two men says. “We don’t need to bring this violence here.”

One woman tells the man “This is my family” and another says “Leave it alone! It has nothing to do with you.”

NSW Police have now issued the men with fines over the “alleged offensive behaviour”.

“About 2pm yesterday (Thursday 2 November 2023), two men reportedly attended an art installation at Bondi Beach and removed several posters,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.

“As part of inquiries, police attended a Granville home and spoke to a 25-year-old and a 40-year-old at a Bankstown home.

“Both men have been issued criminal infringement notices (CIN) for offensive behaviour, which carries a fine of $500,” the statement ends.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it was “completely unacceptable and contrary to Australian values to vandalise and attempt to destroy this display”.

“Australians have a right to peaceful, dignified displays that bring attention to the plight of loved ones hauled off into captivity by a terrorist organisation.”

The incident comes after vandals destroyed posters of Israeli hostages on the grounds of Sydney University, amid an upsurge in anti-Semitic violence in Australia.