Pro-Palestine protester in custody over alleged ‘swastika flag’ stunt

A Jewish pro-Palestine protester has been arrested after he allegedly brandished a placard emblazoned with a Nazi swastika.

A pro-Palestine protester has been arrested after he allegedly brandished a placard emblazoned with a Nazi swastika during a massive demonstration in Sydney.

The 56-year-old man was taken into custody over a sign which showed the ancient symbol, which has become synonymous with Nazi Germany.

The placard, photographed by NewsWire photographer Damian Shaw, read: “Stop Nazi Israel.”

The 56-year-old Jewish man has been charged with the offence of displaying a Nazi symbol in public.

NSW Police say they have taken a man into custody. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Protesters called for a “boycott” of Israel. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The offence is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and an $11,000 fine, as a maximum penalty, if the man is found guilty.

“There’s been close scrutiny of the flags,” a NSW Police spokesperson told NewsWire.

“The man alleged to have the swastika flag is in police custody.”

NSW Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said he had personally inspected the symbol and determined it was a Nazi swastika.

Many of the other protest materials waved at the rallies bore resemblance to colours of flags of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, which popped up at pro-Palestine rallies last weekend.

A yellow Hezbollah flag (right) at a previous pro-Palestine rally in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Mr McKenna told reporters ahead of the rally that “action will be taken” against anyone seen carrying Hezbollah-related material, including pictures of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The Hezbollah flag features a fist gripping an assault rifle.

Flags using the same colour scheme and similar imagery appeared at Sunday’s protests.

Mr McKenna said legal advice given to police was that the flags did not amount to a breach of the “nuanced legislation”.

He told media he does not anticipate any further arrests at this time.

Flags bearing close resemblance to the flag of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah were abundant at Sydney’s pro-Palestine protests. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

It is unclear whether the flags were in breach of rally rules. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

In general, he said the crowd of ten thousand protesters were “well behaved” and police were “very happy” with the peaceful outcome.

Thousands of chanting and drumming protesters swarmed the CBDs of Sydney and Melbourne on the eve of the anniversary of Hamas’ brutal October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, which represents the worst loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust.

The Palestinian Islamist group killed some 1200 and took hundreds more hostage as they retreated into Gaza.

The ensuing Israeli response has killed upward of 41,000 in the densely populated Palestinian territory.

More than 1.9 million residents have been forced to flee for their lives, which amounts to the majority of the population.

Originally published as Pro-Palestine protester in custody over alleged ‘swastika flag’ stunt