Tali Kizhner, who’s son died in Hamas attack speaks of Melbourne ambush from pro-Palestinian mob

One of the people ambushed by pro-Palestinian protesters in Melbourne has spoken at a Bondi rally about the “insulting” and “inapproriate” actions she can’t believe happened in Australia.

The families of Israeli hostages have travelled to Sydney after a distasteful ordeal in which they were ambushed by pro-Palestine protesters at their Melbourne hotel on Wednesday night.

The protesters wielded “Zionism is Fascism” and “Free Palestine” signs in the foyer of the hotel where they learnt the Israelis were staying, placing dolls covered in fake blood in front of them. Tali Kizhner, whose son Segev Kizhner, 22 was killed at the Supernova music festival on October 7, spoke at a rally at Bondi yesterday, telling a large crowd of supporters the hotel incident was “insulting”.

“For people ... who have experienced October 7th, very harsh, very difficult events, it just flashed and floated back all this fear and all these very painful memories... how can you do this?” she asked?

From left Elad Levy, Lior Vizental, Amit Parpara, Tali Kizhner and Ofir Tamir holding photos of Jewish family and friends who are hostages held by Hamas, during an event at Bondi Beach. Picture: Jonathan Ng

She added that it was completely inappropriate, and that she was shocked that this has happened in Australia.

“I’m sorry for these people, I’m really sorry for them, because it is so inappropriate, it is so unbelievably not in place to do this,” she said.

“Again, we’re talking about basic values...I don’t understand at all the anti-semitic trend because people need to understand the situation.

“Getting inside the hotel of the guests of Australia and insulting them, I do not know how anybody can react to that,” she said.

Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon speaking with people as Jewish family and friends of hostages held by Hamas holding an event at Bondi Beach. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she condemned Wednesday’s protest “in the strongest possible terms”.

“Yesterday, I met with a mother whose son was murdered. She – like so many others – has experienced the heartbreak that is every mother’s nightmare, at the hands of terrorists,” she said.

“I condemn the extreme behaviour on display last night, in the strongest possible terms. I condemn the anti-Semitism. I condemn targeting people in their moment of grief.

“Whatever your views, we all expect Victorians to act with decency and humanity.”

Jewish family and friends of hostages held by Hamas holding an event at Bondi Beach. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Sydney rally, however, was met with an outpour of support from members of the Jewish community, who stood in solidarity by lifesize cardboard cutouts set up to represent each of the Israelis either held hostage or killed by Hamas.

Speaking at the rally, Ms Kizhner emphasised that she wants people to understand “it’s not about the Israel and Palestine conflict”.

“It’s not about Jews, it’s not about Palestinians, it’s not about religion, it’s about basic human values that were crushed, that were brutally killed and, there were so many dreams, they were 22 years old,” Ms Kizhner said, holding up a placard of her child.

“It is very difficult to bury kids, it’s unbelievably difficult, and the only thing I want to achieve is to explain to the people that it’s not about the Israeli and Palestine conflict,” she said.

“It’s about good and bad, it’s about Hamas being an undespicable terrorist organisation that should be ripped out.”

Robyn Shatenstein who’s cousin, Daniel Peretz a tank commander was captured by Hamas, at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach being held by family and friends of hostages held by Hamas. Picture: Jonathan Ng

She added that she was encouraged by the support at the rally.

“It’s enormously encouraging because the most powerful thing in the world is love, and people here, they’re so supportive. There are so many hearts just given to us, and their desire to bring us a little bit of comfort, somehow to relieve our pain...”

Among the crowd, Sydney resident Robyn Shatenstein stood by a cutout of her cousin, Daniel Peretz — a tank commander who was kidnapped with three of his colleagues on October 7.

“All he was doing was doing his job, that’s all,” Ms Shatenstein said, struck with emotion.

She added that the rise in anti-semitism has scared her, causing her to take precautions such as not wearing the Jewish Star of David in unfamiliar places.

“We actually are scared in some ways with the anti-Semitism that’s going on at the moment worldwide, not only here, in this beautiful peaceful country that we live in. The last thing we ever expected was anti-semitism,” she said.

“I don’t want to stand up and say I’m Jewish, I’m scared because you just don’t who is out there. Here we feel safe, but in other places we don’t,” she said.

“We just want our hostages back, that’s all we want.”

Originally published as Tali Kizhner, who’s son died in Hamas attack speaks of Melbourne ambush from pro-Palestinian mob