Activist vandals destroy posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages at University of Sydney

Activist vandals have destroyed nine walls of posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages on the grounds of the University of Sydney, scrawling graffiti over the images and shredding most of them, amid a “sharp spike” in anti-Semitic hate incidents.

Activist vandals have destroyed nine walls of posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages on the grounds of the University of Sydney, scrawling graffiti over the images and shredding most of them, amid a “sharp spike” in anti-Semitic hate incidents.

Jewish groups say they are “sickened” by the “defiled” posters — including images of a nine month old baby kidnapped by Hamas — being torn apart.

The posters, located outside the university’s new law buildings on the main campus thoroughfare, have been systematically pulled down and scratched so not one is left intact. Some have had graffiti including the words “Israel killed” written on top of posters of missing children.

Nearby posters for a now-cancelled meeting calling for a Palestinian “global intifada” have been left untouched.

Vandals have attacked nine walls of posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages on the grounds of Sydney University.

Posters of missing Israeli hostages have been vandalised at Sydney University.

Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council public affairs director Walt Secord said he was “sickened” to see the spontaneous community-based poster campaign demanding the freedom of the more than 220 Israeli hostages had been defaced and defiled”.

“What kind of diseased mind would tear up posters pleading for the freedom of grandmothers and babies being held by the murderous Hamas terrorists?’’ Mr Seccord said.

Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said there had been numerous examples of harassment of Jewish people in Sydney and Melbourne by members of the Middle Eastern community.

Posters of missing Israeli hostages have been vandalised at Sydney University.

“There’s something wrong with the people who tear down pictures of kidnapped children,” he said.

“Certain Australian universities have become hotbeds of radical leftist anti-semitism and incitement to violence.”

A Sydney Uni spokeswoman said it remained “committed to freedom of speech’’ but added: “We do not condone the removal of lawful posters ... on campus if it could be considered to inhibit another person’s right to free speech.’’

Uni moves to shut down ‘intifada’ event after incitement claim

The University of Sydney has acted to shut down an event promoting a “global intifada” after local Jewish leaders raised the alarm over posters using a picture of a bulldozer crashing through an Israeli security fence to promote the meeting.

The event, hosted by the socialist group Solidarity and entitled “Palestine: The Case for Global Intifada”, was expected to take place on Wednesday at the uni’s main campus.

The poster invited students to “discuss the revolutionary strategy for freeing Palestine and overturning the system that causes Palestine’s oppression and breeds colonial violence.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said: “It is difficult to see how this event, and the advertisement, is anything other than an incitement to violence.”

“The inclusion of an image from the Hamas terrorist massacre of October 7 says everything, the organisers are glorifying the savage acts of a recognised terrorist organisation.

A poster advertising a pro-Palestinian meeting calling for a "global intifada" at The University of Sydney.

The University of Sydney.

Upon hearing of the event, a university spokesman said that the event had been cancelled.

“The safety and wellbeing of our community is always our first priority; in that context, and with regard to our policies and values, we have banned a promoted event from being held on our campus tomorrow as it is considered the event breaches relevant policies,” they said.

The word “intifada” is most commonly associated with a series of violent Palestinian uprisings targeting Israeli soldiers and civilians that have employed everything from throwing stones to suicide bombing.

Despite the extreme violence of Hamas’s October 7 attack, which included the murder, rape, and mutilation of innocent men, women and children and the kidnapping of about 200 Israelis currently being held hostage in Gaza, the Solidarity website describes Hamas as “a major part of the Palestinian resistance movement.”

Originally published as Activist vandals destroy posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages at University of Sydney